.^ 


BX  9211  .  N7218  S406  7916^ 
Hollister,  William  H. 


REV.    PAUL  R.   HICKOK 
1917 


;0Sf  CF  PS55?s 


Second  Presbyterian  Church 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

Prepared  and  Read  at  the  Reopening 
of  the  Auditorium,  October  3,  191 5 

BY 

/ 
William  H.  Hollister,  Jr. 

Clerk  of  the  Session 


Revised  and  Extended  to 
April,  191 6 


Published  by  direction  of  the  Session 


1  r-k 


>^0^^ Phi,*,  ,  s       ;inni^V 


e  Autnor 


LTHOUGH  somewhat  more  than  a  decade 
remains  until  the  rounding  out  of  the  century 
mark  of  the  organization  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Troy,  it  has  been  deemed 
advisable  by  the  session  to  take  advantage  of  the  occasion 
of  re-entering  the  auditorium  for  worship,  after  an  absence 
of  three  months,  made  necessary  by  somewhat  extensive 
repairs,  improvements  and  renovation  thereof,  by  pre- 
paring and  presenting  a  historical  sketch  of  the  church 
covering  its  nearly  ninety  years  of  life  and  activities. 

In  its  preparation  the  writer  has  been  very  largely 
informed  as  to  its  early  history  by  the  historical  discourse 
given  by  a  former  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  William  Irvin,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  semi-centennial  of  the  church  in  July,  1876, 
remembered  by  many  who  are  still  members  of  the  church 
and  congregation;  and  to  him  I  am  very  largely  indebted 
for  many  of  the  facts  of  the  first  fifty  years  of  this  church's 
history. 

Some  embarrassment  as  to  historical  accuracy  still 
exists  as  to  many  early  events  by  reason  of  the  destruction 
of  a  part  of  our  first  church  records  by  the  great  fire  which 
swept  over  the  city  in  1862,  destroying  our  first  house  of 
worship  and  the  residences  and  homes  of  many  of  the 
members.  Fortunately  the  original  register  of  member- 
ship has  been  preserved  and  we  are  thus  able  to  state 
with  accuracy  the  list  of  the  original  fifty  members,  all  of 
whom  came  upon  certificate  from  other  churches. 

The  Roll  of  Charter  Members. 

There  were  forty-five  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Troy,  three  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Stillwater,  one  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lansing- 
burgh,  and  one  from  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of 
Union  Village,  Washington  County,  N.  Y. 

[  5  ] 


SECOND     rRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY.     N.     Y. 

These  were  received  into  membership  on  the  25th  day 
of  September,  1827,  after  the  church  had  been  ecclesias- 
tically organized  by  the  Presbytery  of  Troy,  and  are 
as  follows: 

From  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy: 

Elias  Badaeu,  Zenas  Gary,  Gurdon  Gorning,  Mrs.  Ara- 
bella Corning,  Hannah  G.  Gorning,  Edward  M.  Gee,  Mrs. 
Ann  Goe,  Mary  Ann  Goe,  Mrs.  Susan  Drake  (Dr.  Samuel), 
Daniel  Delavan,  Mrs.  Rachel  Delavan,  Theodosia  Delavan, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Eldridge  (Stephen),  Gurdon  Grant,  Mrs. 
Lydia  Grant,  Mrs.  Eunice  Greenman  (Josiah),  Mrs.  Mary 
Haight  (William  D.),  Luther  Hannam,  Jr.,  Deliverance 
Knowles,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lyman  (Micah  J.),  John  D.  Mann, 
Mrs.  Martha  P.  Mann,  Timothy  Mann,  Abram  Na^h,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Nash,  Lucy  Nash,  John  Prescott,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Frescott,  James  Ranken,  Mrs.  Abigail  Ranken,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Sackett  (Daniel),  Lucy  Start,  Roxanna  Stearns,  Edwin 
Wilson,  Jr.,  Gatherine  Witbeck,  Jared  Weed,  Mrs.  Mary 
Weed,  Alsop  Weed,  Mrs.  Lucy  Weed,  Mrs.  Lorinda  Silli- 
man  (Robert  D.),  John  Thomas,  Mrs.  Lucy  Thomas,  Sally 
Townsend,  James  Wallace,  Mrs.  Matilda  Wallace. 

From  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lansingburgh: 
Mrs.  Lois  Ross  (Stephen). 

From  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Stillwater: 

Mrs.  Nancy  Patrick  (Jesse),  Jane  Patrick,  Ann 
Osborne. 

From  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Union  Village: 
Mrs.  Eliza  Stearns  (Livy). 

Why   a   Second   Church. 

About  the  first  of  February,  1826,  a  number  of  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
were  considering  the  matter  of  forming  another  Presby- 
terian church  in  Troy,  then  a  city  of  about  seven  thousand 
inhabitants.  While  it  has  been  said  and  thought  by  some 
that  the  proposed  enterprise  was  started  and  nourished  by 

[   6   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY.     N.     Y. 

reason  of  certain  theological  dissensions  and  differences 
in  doctrines  and  methods  among  the  members  of  the  First 
church,  yet  it  is  not  so  well  authenticated  as  to  conclude 
with  any  certainty  that  other  reasons  were  not  the  primary 
ones.  Later,  in  the  year  of  1826,  the  great  evangelist, 
Charles  G.  Finney,  then  in  the  height  of  his  evangelistic 
career,  responded  to  an  invitation  to  hold  special  services 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  as  a  result  thereof 
a  great  revival  work  was  accomplished.  While  the  dif- 
ferences stated  may  have  existed  and,  possibly,  in  some 
measure,  may  have  been  encouraged  or  emphasized  by 
the  work  of  the  great  revivalist,  yet  the  fact  remains  that 
the  movement  to  organize  a  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
had  been  under  way  for  nearly  a  year  before  Dr.  Finney 
came  to  Troy.  It  cannot  therefore  be  said  that  these 
conditions  were  primarily  responsible  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  new  church,  but  rather,  that  such  organization 
was  the  consequence  of  a  natural  and  rapid  growth  toward 
the  north  of  a  comparatively  young  and  thriving  town, 
and  for  the  accommodation  of  many  residing  in  that 
locality,  and  also  looking  toward  an  extension  of  religious 
and  denominational  influence  in  the  community. 

The   Initial    Work. 

The  initial  practical  work  of  the  enterprise  began 
when  a  committee  consisting  of  Jeremiah  Dauchy,  William 
D.  Haight,  Robert  D.  Silliman,  Stephen  Eldridge,  Uriah 
Wallace,  and  Gideon  Buckingham,  started  a  subscription 
for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  a  site  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  building  in  that  locality,  and  as  a  result  of  that 
movement  the  sum  of  $11,165  was  raised  for  that  purpose 
by  subscription  from  one  hundred  and  eight  persons,  in 
amounts  ranging  from  five  dollars  to  one  thousand  dollars 

[  7  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

each.  None  of  these  persons  apparently  were  ever  in  the 
membership  of  this  church  except  Robert  D.  Silliman, 
who,  several  years  after  its  organization,  became  a  member 
upon  profession  of  his  faith;  but  members  of  the  families 
of  some  of  them  were  among  those  who  brought  their 
letters  from  the  First  church  and  became  charter  members 
of  the  Second  church. 

For  some  time  those  who  had  in  mind  the  new  church 
organization  had  been  holding  services  on  the  Sabbath 
in  a  school  house  near  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Elbow 
(now  Fulton)  Streets,  the  exact  spot  not  being  clearly 
identified,  but  probably  it  was  on  Fourth  Street  above 
Fulton. 

The    Civil   Organization. 

On  the  25th  day  of  May,  1826,  a  meeting  was  held 
in  this  school  house  of  the  male  members  of  what  was 
then  designated  as  the  Second  Presbyterian  Congregation 
of  the  City  of  Troy,  and  action  was  taken  on  the  subject 
of  forming  a  corporate  organization  as  indicated  by  the 
following  certificate,  made  under  the  provisions  of  the 
statutes  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

CERTIFICATE. 

This  may  certify  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  at  a 
meeting  of  the  male  members  of  full  age  belonging  to  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Congregation  of  the  City  of  Troy,  in  the  County  of 
Rensselaer  and  State  of  New  York,  assembled  at  the  usual  place 
of  divine  worship  in  the  school  house  near  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Elbow  Streets  in  the  Fourth  Ward  of  said  City  on  the  25tli 
day  of  May  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  twenty-six,  agreeable  to  public  notice  given  at  three  stated 
meetings  of  the  society  previous  to  the  meeting  for  the  choice  of 
trustees,  and  fifteen  days  before  and  previous  to  this  day,  we 
John  Thomas  and  Alsop  Weed,  were  nominated  by  the  majority 
of  the  members  present  to  preside  at  the  election  of  trustees  for 

[  8  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

the  aforesaid  congregation,  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
to  provide  for  the  incorporation  of  religious  societies  passed 
April  5,  1813 ;  and  in  conformity  to  the  Third  Section  of  the  said 
act,  Jeremiah  Dauchy,  Stephen  Eldridge,  William  D.  Haight, 
Robert  D.  Silliman,  Uriah  Wallace,  and  Gideon  Buckingham, 
were  duly  elected  trustees  for  the  management  of  the  temporali- 
ties of  the  said  Congregation,  and  that  they  and  their  successors 
in  office  are  to  be  forever  hereafter  known  by  the  name  of  the 
"Second  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  the  City  of  Troy." 

Given  under  our  hands  and  seals  this  25th  day  of  May,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-six, 

(Signed)     John  Thomas. 
A.  Weed. 
Sealed  and  Delivered  in  Presence  of 
E.  Bell  and 
R.  Delavan. 

The  above  certificate  w^as  acknowledged  on  the  30th 
day  of  May,  1826,  before  David  Buell,  Jr.,  First  Judge  of 
Rensselaer  Common  Pleas,  and  recorded  on  the  same  day 
in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  Rensselaer  County. 

The    Ecclesiastical    Organization. 

The  ecclesiastical  organization  of  the  church  did  not 
occur  until  more  than  one  year  afterward.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Troy  at  Salem  on  the  29th  of  August, 
1827,  a  communication  was  received  from  some  of  the 
members  of  the  new  congregation  requesting  its  organ- 
ization as  a  church,  and  a  committee  was  then  appointed 
for  that  purpose.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Troy  on  October  30th,  following,  the  church  was 
received  by  the  Presbytery  and  placed  on  its  roll  as  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy,  at  the  request  of 
its  three  commissioners,  Joseph  Russell,  Daniel  Sackett, 
and  Alfred  Mosher.  Gurdon  Corning,  one  of  the  first 
elders,  represented  the  new  church  in  the  Presbytery. 

[  9  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

After  the  filing  of  the  papers  for  incorporation  under 
the  statute  in  1826,  and  before  the  reception  of  the  church 
by  the  Presbytery  in  1827,  much  and  important  work  had 
been  done. 

The  Building  and   Laying  the   Corner   Stone. 

On  the  22nd  of  May,  1826,  in  consideration  of  the 
sum  of  $550,  conveyance  was  made  by  Stephen  Warren 
to  the  trustees  of  the  corporation  of  two  lots  (873-874) 
on  the  east  side  of  Sixth  Street  and  south  of  Grand  Divi- 
sion (now  Grand)  Street,  aggregating  in  size  one  hundred 
feet  front  and  extending  eastward  to  the  alley,  one  hun- 
dred thirty  feet.  This  is  the  same  ground  now  partially 
covered  by  what  is  known  as  Church  Place  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  Grand  Street  and  the  railroad.  Within 
two  months  from  that  date,  and  on  July  12th,  the  corner 
stone  of  the  new  church  building  was  laid.  The  Boards 
of  Trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  and  of  the 
new  Second  Church  met  on  that  day  at  the  house  of 
Gideon  Buckingham  on  Fourth  Street,  next  south  of 
the  present  site  of  the  Security  Trust  Company,  and,  with 
the  ministers  invited  to  take  part  in  the  service,  proceeded 
to  the  site  of  the  new  church,  corner  of  Sixth  and  Grand 
Division  Streets,  and  in  the  presence  of  a  very  large  gath- 
ering of  people  the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  appropriate 
ceremonies.  The  cast  iron  box  deposited  in  the  corner 
stone  was  made  by  Starbuck  &  Gurley,  Iron  Founders 
of  Troy,  and  contained  a  copper  plate  on  which  was  in- 
scribed as  follows :  "The  corner  stone  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church,  laid  July  12,  1826,"  also  the  names  of 
the  six  trustees  as  above,  and  that  of  Nehemiah  Brown, 
the  mason,  and  John  Ayres,  the  carpenter.  The  box  also 
contained  a  copy  of  each  of  the  several  newspapers  pub- 

[  10  ] 


SECOND  PRESr.  YTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  TROY,  N.  Y. 

lished  in  Troy,  and  the  different  denominations  of  Ameri- 
can silver  and  copper  coins. 

The  interest  shown  in  the  new  church  enterprise  by 
the  First  church  was  indicated  by  the  presence  and  hearty 
co-operation  of  its  officers  and  trustees,  as  well  as  by  the 
fact  that  the  address  on  this  occasion  was  delivered  by 
its  pastor,  the  Rev.  Nathan  S.  S.  Benian.  Thereafter  the 
building  proceeded  rapidly,  and  in  one  of  the  city  news- 
papers of  the  following  December  (1826)  was  described 
as  follows:  "The  Second  Presbyterian  Society  (one  lately 
formed  and  worshipping  with  the  First)  have  erected 
this  season  an  elegant  brick  church  at  the  corner  of  Grand 
Division  and  Sixth  Streets.  It  will  be  entirely  finished 
early  next  spring.  It  is  eighty  by  fifty  feet;  has  a  Session 
Room,  and  rooms  for  other  purposes  in  the  basement  story 
and  discovers  much  taste  and  skill  in  its  construction." 

The  pulpit  was  elaborately  constructed  of  Honduras 
mahogany  with  a  curved  flight  of  balustraded  steps  on 
either  side  and  was  one  of  the  costly  appointments  of  the 
building.  A  fine  toned  bell  cast  by  Julius  Hanks  was  hung 
in  the  steeple.  There  were  twelve  hundred  sittings  in 
the  building,  five  hundred  of  which  were  in  the  gallery. 
The  building  was  completed  in  the  early  spring  of  1827. 

Old   System   of   Pew   Ownership. 

It  was  largely  the  custom  of  churches  in  those  days 
to  sell  and  convey  by  formal  deed  of  conveyance,  under 
seal,  a  pew  or  slip  in  the  church  to  an  individual,  in  form 
as  elaborate  as  that  pertaining  to  the  transfer  of  real  estate. 
These  conveyances,  however,  were  made  subject  to  the 
payment  of  an  annual  rental  therefor,  amounting  usually 
to  about  ten  per  cent,  of  the  sum  paid  for  such  pew  or 
slip.     The  title  ran  to  the  grantee,  his  heirs,  executors, 

[  11  ] 


■rc0^ 

/ 

■r rr:.r-.  ':5«^"' 

SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

administrators  and  assigns.  This  church  adopted  that 
custom  in  its  beginning.  The  aggregate  sum  to  be  thus 
raised  by  rentals  at  that  time  was  fixed  at  $1,562  and  the 
amount  of  rentals  could  only  be  increased  by  a  two-thirds 
vote  of  all  the  pew  owners  on  the  ground  floor  of  said 
meeting  house,  and  then  to  a  sum  not  to  exceed  $2,000. 
In  case  of  an  increase  in  pew  rentals,  the  same  were  to 
be  apportioned  among  the  pews  in  the  same  ratio  as  the 
original  rentals.  Among  the  conditions  imposed  upon 
the  pew  holders,  as  set  forth  in  their  deed  of  conveyance, 
was  that  in  case  it  should  happen  that  the  yearly  rent 
should  be  behind  and  unpaid  for  the  space  of  thirty  days 
beyond  the  time  limit  of  payment,  it  should  be  lawful 
for  the  congregation  (called  the  first  party  in  the  deed) 
"to  re-enter  and  take  possession  and  enjoy  such  pew  or 
slip  and  expel,  put  out  and  amove  therefrom  such  delinquent 
pew  holders  and  all  other  persons";  and  the  title  to  said 
pew  would  then  cease,  become  void  and  of  none  effect, 
and  would  revert  to  the  corporation.  This  plan,  however, 
was  discontinued  after  the  destruction  of  that  building 
by  fire  in  1862. 

One  of  the  earliest  of  these  conveyances  is  before  the 
writer,  dated  January  19,  1829,  and  conveys  title  of  the 
pew  or  slip  to  Micah  J.  Lyman  and  to  his  two  sons,  Charles 
and  George  Lyman,  for  the  sum  of  $190,  with  $19  as  an 
annual  rental. 

The   Call   and   Pastorate   of   Mark   Tucker. 

On  March  10,  1827,  and  before  the  selling  of  the 
pews,  the  congregation,  although  not  yet  ecclesiastically 
organized  by  the  Presbytery  as  a  church,  extended  a 
hearty  call  to  the  Rev.  Mark  Tucker,  then  of  Northampton, 
Mass.,  and  formerly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Still- 

[   12   ] 


"o^-  |g,4 


Pastors  of  Church  since  organization,  i  827-1  91  6. 


SECOND     PRESBYTKRIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y, 

water,  N.  Y.,  to  become  its  pastor,  which  call  was  subse- 
quently accepted.  During  the  month  of  August,  1827, 
the  ceremonies  attending  the  dedication  of  the  new  edifice 
were  held,  and  the  sermon  on  that  occasion  was  deliv- 
ered by  Rev.  Edward  Dorr  Griffin,  D.D.,  then  the  dis- 
tinguished President  of  Williams  College,  and  popularly 
known  as  a  "prince  of  preachers." 

Rev.  Mr.  Tucker  was  duly  installed  pastor  of  the 
church  by  the  Presbytery  of  Troy  on  the  31st  day  of 
October,  the  day  following  the  placing  of  the  church  on 
the  roll  of  Presbytery.  At  the  installation  of  the  new 
pastor.  Rev.  John  Younglove  of  Brunswick,  presided. 
Rev.  John  Kennedy  preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  R.  K. 
Rodgers  of  Sandy  Hill  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and 
the  Rev.  Solomon  Lyman  the  charge  to  the  people. 

The  church  had  made  a  fortunate  selection  in  its  first 
pastor.  Dr.  Tucker's  preaching  appealed  to  the  emotions 
of  his  hearers,  and  his  pastoral  services  were  wise,  affec- 
tionate, and  acceptable.  For  nearly  ten  years  he  labored 
with  great  efficiency  for  the  prosperity  of  the  church. 
Large  accessions  were  the  reward  of  his  labors. 

In  the  year  1831,  one  hundred  fifty-six  persons  were 
received  into  membership  on  profession  of  their  faith  as 
the  result  of  a  great  revival.  In  1834  there  were  four 
hundred  thirty  communicants  on  the  roll,  after  a  consid- 
erable number  (about  seventy)  had  been  dismissed  to  the 
newly  organized  Second  Street  Presbyterian  Church. 

During  eight  of  the  years  of  Dr.  Tucker's  ministry, 
omitting  two  years  of  which  no  report  is  preserved,  two 
hundred  ninety-eight  persons  were  received  on  profession, 
and  two  hundred  eighteen  by  letter. 

On  May  2,  1837,  Dr.  Tucker's  pastorate  terminated 
by  his  resignation,  and  he  became  pastor  of  a  Congrega- 

[   13   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

tional  church  in  Providence,  R.  I.  Twenty-seven  years 
later  he  was  invited  to  take  part  in,  and  was  present  at, 
the  dedication  of  this  building  wherein  we  now  worship 
and  offered  prayer  on  that  occasion.  He  died  March  19, 
1875,  and  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  loving  memory  of 
their  former  pastor,  a  committee  of  the  Session  of  this 
church  attended  the  services  of  his  burial  at  Weathers- 
field,  Conn. 

Erastus   Hopkins   and   Charles   Wadsworth. 

Rev.  Erastus  Hopkins  was  called  to  follow  Dr.  Tucker, 
and  was  installed  September  13,  1837.  He  was  a  man 
of  genial  manners  and  scholarly  attainments,  and  an  ex- 
cellent writer  and  speaker.  By  reason  of  ill  health  he  was 
compelled  to  give  up  his  pastoral  labors,  and  in  1841 
resigned  this  charge  much  to  the  regret  of  his  people,  and 
sought  rest  and  change  in  Northampton,  Mass.,  the  place 
of  his  early  residence.  During  his  pastorate  the  church 
registration  reached  four  hundred  forty  one,  which  was 
the  highest  up  to  that  time.  During  the  latter  part  of 
Mr.  Hopkins'  pastorate  he  was  prevented  from  preaching 
by  reason  of  ill  health,  and  for  several  months  before,  as 
well  as  following  his  resignation,  the  pulpit  was  supplied 
by  Mr.  Charles  Wadsworth,  a  young  man  who  had  been 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Troy,  but  who 
had  not  yet  been  ordained.  Mr.  Wadsworth's  services 
were  so  acceptable  that  he  was  unanimously  and  enthusi- 
astically called  to  the  pastorate  and  was  ordained  and 
installed  in  February  following  (1842).  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Eliphalet  Nott,  then  the  president  of  Union  College, 
preached  the  installation  sermon.  Mr.  Wadsworth  soon 
developed  great  powers  as  a  preacher  and  established  a 
reputation  far  beyond  local  limits  as  a  man  of  rare  rhetori- 

[   14   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

cal  gifts  and  brilliancy  of  speech.  His  power  was  in  the  pul- 
pit rather  than  in  pastoral  and  social  service,  and  in  this  his 
peculiar  gifts  were  remarkably  effective.  After  eight  years 
of  service  he  also,  like  his  predecessor,  was  compelled  by 
ill  health  to  give  up  his  charge,  which  he  did  in  March, 
1850,  to  the  great  sorrow  of  his  people.  Under  his  min- 
istry the  church  grew  from  three  hundred  sixty  to  four 
hundred  ninety-one  members,  the  additions  in  one  year 
being  nearly  one  hundred  on  profession.  Dr.  Wadsworth 
afterwards  spent  many  years  as  a  pastor  in  Philadelphia 
and  San  Francisco,  taking  a  foremost  place  among  the 
preachers  of  those  cities,  and  in  the  church  at  large. 

Thomas   P.    Field,    Fourth    Pastor. 

The  fourth  pastor  was  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Field,  who, 
like  two  of  his  predecessors,  came  from  Massachusetts, 
and  was  installed  on  November  14,  1850.  He  was  a  man 
of  fine  tastes,  great  scholarship  and  culture,  and  an 
attractive  speaker.  His  pastorate  of  three  and  one-half 
years  was  successful,  and  with  great  reluctance  his  resig- 
nation was  accepted  on  February  16,  1854,  that  he  might 
accept  a  call  to  a  professorship  in  Amherst  College.  Sub- 
sequently Dr.  Field  returned  to  the  pastoral  work  and 
become  pastor  of  the  leading  Congregational  Church  in 
New  London,  Conn. 

Elam   Smalley,   Fifth   Pastor. 

On  June  21,  1855,  Rev.  Elam  Smalley  was  installed 
the  fifth  pastor  of  this  church.  I  well  remember  the  ten- 
derness with  which  our  late  beloved  brother.  Elder  Field, 
always  spoke  of  Dr.  Smalley,  of  his  rare  sweetness  of 
disposition,  his  unusual  spirituality,  his  deep  piety  and 
devotion  to  duty,  which  together  with  his  pulpit  power 

[  15  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

completely  won  his  people,  and  made  him  very  successful 
in  his  ministry.  Sadly  enough,  in  the  fourth  year  of  his 
pastorate,  ill  health  overtook  him,  and  his  work  was  ter- 
minated by  his  death  on  July  30,  1858,  scarcely  more  than 
four  years  after  his  installation,  beloved  and  lamented  by 
all  who  knew  him.  Dr.  Smalley's  resting  place  is  in  our 
beautiful  Oakwood,  where  a  monument,  erected  by  this 
church,  marks  the  place  of  his  burial.  It  may  be  worthy 
of  mention  here  that  the  son  of  Dr.  Smalley  was  George 
W.  Smalley,  who  attained  a  world-wide  reputation  as 
journalist  and  newspaper  correspondent,  and  whose  de- 
cease has  but  recently  occurred  after  a  brilliant  record  of 
a  full  half  century. 

Joseph    T.    Duryea,    Sixth    Pastor. 

Following  Dr.  Smalley  came  Joseph  T.  Duryea,  a 
young  man  fresh  from  Princeton  College  and  Seminary,  not 
yet  ordained,  who  was  called,  and  on  the  19th  day  of  May, 
1859,  was  ordained  and  installed  as  the  sixth  pastor  of 
this  church.  He  came  with  honors  already  earned  and 
with  a  reputation  as  a  writer  and  speaker  of  extraordinary 
promise.  He  was  zealous,  ambitious  and  inspiring,  and 
had  the  power  of  imparting  his  zeal  and  spirit  to  his  people, 
and  especially  the  younger  portion,  and  quickly  they  re- 
sponded to  his  leadership  with  great  enthusiasm  and  affec- 
tion. The  congregation  and  Sabbath  School  grew  and 
prospered  under  the  stimulating  guidance  of  the  young 
pastor.  Because  of  his  rare  and  extraordinary  gifts,  and 
his  remarkable  success  in  his  first  charge,  other  and  larger 
communities  sought  him  for  wider,  and  perhaps  more 
important,  fields  of  labor.  Within  three  years  he  was 
called  to  the  City  of  New  York  as  pastor  of  one  of  the 

[  10  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

large  Collegiate  Reformed  Dutch  Churches,  and  was  dis- 
missed by  this  Presbytery  in  March,  1862. 

The   Great   Fire   of   1862. 

Scarcely  three  months  after  the  departure  of  Mr. 
Duryea,  and  on  May  10,  1862,  came  the  greatest  trial  to 
the  church  and  the  city  that  has  probably  occurred  in  the 
history  of  either.  In  a  few  hours,  beginning  about  noon 
of  that  day,  "the  great  fire,"  as  it  always  since  has  been 
known,  swept  over  and  devastated  the  city,  at  a  loss  of 
nearly  or  quite  three  million  dollars  of  property.  Among 
the  seven  hundred  buildings  destroyed  on  that  afternoon 
was  the  house  of  worship  of  this  church.  Early  after  the 
beginning  of  the  fire,  starting  at  the  old  railroad  bridge, 
a  wooden  structure,  a  burning  brand  blown  by  a  strong 
wind  lodged  in  the  steeple,  and  before  one  o'clock  the 
whole  structure  was  wrapped  in  flames.  A  present  mem-  ' 
ber  of  this  congregation,  then  a  young  man,  who  came  up 
at  the  time,  in  his  zeal  to  save  something,  rushed  up  the 
steps  and  gathered  some  cushions  on  his  shoulder  and 
bore  them  away  in  safety,  together  with  an  armful  of 
hymn  books,  some  of  which  as  relics  he  has  yet  in  his 
possession.  Practically  everything  was  lost  in  the  total 
destruction  of  the  church  and  session  house  adjoining. 

The  hardest  blow,  however,  was  upon  those  of  the 
congregation  who  lost  practically  all  their  possessions, 
and  nearly  or  quite  one  hundred  families  in  the  congre- 
gation who  had  begun  the  day  in  comfort  came  to  the 
night  with  their  homes  and  places  of  business  in  ruins, 
and  many  with  all  their  property  destroyed.  Surely  the 
outlook  to  many  was  dark,  but  their  spirit  and  resolution 
were  put  to  the  test  and  they  prevailed  over  the  misfor- 
tune thus  suddenly  thrust  upon  them,  and  met  the  emer- 

[  17  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

gency  with  undaunted  courage.     The  fire  occurred  on  a 
Saturday.     One   week  from   the   following  Sabbath,   ser- 
vices  were   held   in    Harmony    Hall,    conducted   by    Rev. 
Alfred  H.  Kellogg  of  New  York,  who  had  come  to  Troy 
on  the  day  of  the  fire  to  supply  the  pulpit  on  the  following 
day,  but  then  found  neither  church  building  in  which  to 
preach,  nor  congregation  to  serve.     For  some  time  after- 
wards  regular    Sabbath    morning   services    were    held    in 
Harmony  Hall,  which  was  occupied  jointly  with  the  con- 
gregation of  the  Fifth  Street  Baptist  Church,  which  church 
had  also  suffered  loss  of  its  house  of  worship.     Several  of 
the  other  churches  of  the  same  and  other  denominations. 
Baptist,   Methodist,  and   Episcopal,  promptly  and  gener- 
ously placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  suffering  churches  their 
various  places  of  worship  for  other  services,  which  kindly 
offers  were  to  some  extent  accepted  from  time  to  time. 
Within  nine  days  after  the  fire  and  on  May  19th  the 
congregation  met  and  appointed  a  committee  consisting 
of  Jared  S.  Weed,  Ransom  B.  Moore,  Ezra  W.  Boughton 
and  Horace  T.  Caswell,  to  procure  a  new  site  for  building. 
Already  one  of  their  number,  with  a  business  promptness 
and  energy,  born  of  a  consecrated  enthusiasm,  and  on  his 
own  responsibility,  had  secured  control  of  lots  for  that 
purpose,  and  within  twenty  days  after  the  fire ;   and  on 
May  30th,  the  first  deed  was  executed  of  one  of  the  lots, 
followed  during  the  month  of  June  by  deeds  of  the  remain- 
ing lots  composing  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  frontage 
on  the  west  side  of  Fifth  Avenue,  between   Fulton   and 
Grand   Streets,   on   which   this   building   and   the    session 
house  now  stand,  at  a  cost  of  $13,250.     The  people  then 
said,  "Let  us  arise  and  build."     "So  they  strengthened 
their  hands  for  this  good  work,"  and  the  building  of  the 
present  chapel  was  immediately  begun  and  pushed  forward 

[   18   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

as  rapidly  as  possible.  It  was  finished  before  Christmas 
of  that  year  and  was  well  filled  with  a  large  and  enthusi- 
astic congregation. 

Pastorate   of   Daniel   S.    Gregory   and   Building   and 
Dedication  of  New  House  of  Worship. 

In  the  meantime  the  church  had  called  the  Rev.  Daniel 
S.  Gregory,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College  and  Seminary, 
like  his  immediate  predecessor,  and  he  was  installed  on 
November  5,  1862,  before  the  completion  of  the  chapel. 
The  enthusiasm  of  the  people  over  the  success  of  the  new 
chapel,  and  their  interest  in  their  new  pastor,  together 
with  a  rapidly  increasing  congregation,  soon  demanded 
something  more  than  the  limited  space  and  accommoda- 
tions of  a  chapel  for  worship,  and  they  repeated  the  old 
slogan,  "Let  us  arise  and  build,"  and  they  did  it.  The 
new  pastor  had  scarcely  become  well  started  in  his  work, 
before  the  determination  was  made  to  begin  subscriptions 
for  a  new  church  building,  and  the  plan  was  so  rapidly 
advanced  that  an  early  commencement  of  the  work  was 
warranted  and  actually  begun.  About  one  year  and  a  half 
after  the  completion  of  the  chapel,  and  on  July  14,  1864, 
the  corner  stone  of  this  building  was  laid  by  the  pastor, 
Mr.  Gregory,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  gathering  of 
people.  On  March  30th  following,  the  building,  entirely 
completed,  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God,  the 
sermon  on  that  occasion  being  preached  by  Rev.  Wm.  H. 
Green,  of  Princeton  Seminary,  and  an  address  delivered 
by  the  pastor.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Tucker,  the  first  pastor,  returned  and  participated  in  the 
services,  offering  the  dedication  prayer. 

By  invitation  of  the  Session,  on  the  second  Sabbath 
of  April  following  the   dedication,   the   pastors,   sessions, 

[  19  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

and  members  of  the  other  Presbyterian  churches  of  Troy, 
united  in  a  communion  service  with  this  church  in  its  new- 
house  of  worship,  as  an  expression  of  fraternal  joy  and 
satisfaction  over  the  successful  completion  of  the  enter- 
prise. 

The  new  church  building  was  then,  and  for  many 
years  continued  to  be,  the  largest  auditorium  in  the  city, 
having  a  seating  capacity  of  thirteen  hundred  and  fifty, 
including  a  gallery  around  three  sides  which  would  ac- 
commodate about  four  hundred.  The  organ  was  placed 
in  the  northwest  corner,  and  the  pulpit  was  a  large  plat- 
form in  a  recess  at  the  west  end,  where  the  present  organ 
now  stands.  At  that  time  it  was  thought  and  said  to  be 
a  beautiful  auditorium,  but  to  those  who  have  been  privi- 
leged to  compare  it  with  its  present  changed  architecture 
and  decoration,  the  terms  of  description  must  be  consid- 
erably modified.  By  reason  of  its  great  size,  it  came  to  be 
sought  for  on  many  occasions  when  preparations  were 
to  be  made  for  large  and  popular  gatherings.  Thus  pa- 
triotic meetings  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  were  held 
here,  and  in  the  early  nineties  when  Dwight  L,  Moody 
held  his  evangelistic  campaign  in  Troy  services  were  all 
held  in  this  church,  although  its  capacity  had  been  then 
somewhat  reduced  by  alterations  in  1880.  The  original 
cost  of  the  church  and  chapel  together  with  the  site  was 
about  $71,000,  and  the  money  was  raised  in  a  compara- 
tively short  time,  except  the  sum  of  $10,000,  which  was 
carried  for  a  few  years  and  finally  paid  in  1871. 

As  a  consequence  and  natural  result  of  all  this  activity 
and  self  sacrifice,  let  me  quote  the  actual  and  impressive 
words  of  Dr.  Irvin,  the  successor  of  Mr.  Gregory,  in 
the  church. 

"Such  Christian  zeal  and  perseverance  and  self  sacri- 

[   20   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

fice  did  not  fail,  as  they  never  do  fail,  to  receive  speedily 
divine  recognition  and  reward.  The  spiritual  conditions  of 
the  church,  throughout  its  trying  experience,  had  been  sat- 
isfactory and  promising.  The  Gospel  had  been  faithfully 
and  powerfully  preached ;  family  visitation  had  been  sys- 
tematically pursued,  and  additions  to  the  membership  had 
been  constant,  if  not  specially  numerous.  But  in  the  early 
months  of  1866,  God  opened  the  windows  of  heaven  and 
poured  out  upon  the  church  an  unusual  blessing.  Continu- 
ous evening  services  were  held  and  largely  attended  through 
March,  April  and  May.  A  deep  and  solemn  spirit  pervaded 
the  people.  Christians  were  moved  to  great  activity  and 
earnest  prayer;  and  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  June  (1866), 
one  hundred  and  ten  persons  were  received  into  the 
church's  fellowship  on  confession  of  their  faith.  God's 
people  had  laid  their  carnal  things  liberally  upon  his  altar; 
and  now  by  his  grace,  they  reaped  spiritual  things  a 
hundred  fold." 

The  present  records  show  that  of  the  number  added 
as  above,  there  are  six  persons  yet  upon  the  roll  of  the 
church,  some  of  whom  are  present  at  this  service  to-day. 

In  the  following  December,  1866,  Mr.  Gregory  re- 
signed his  pastorate,  after  four  years  of  faithful  service, 
to  accept  a  call  to  a  Congregational  Church  in  New  Haven. 
Dr.  Gregory  afterward  became  a  successful  educator,  a 
Professor  of  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy  in  Wooster 
University,  Ohio,  acquiring  a  great  reputation  as  a  scholar, 
preacher,  commentator,  and  author,  and  a  great  defender 
and  advocate  of  the  conservative  view  of  the  scriptures 
and  statement  of  Christian  doctrine.  Dr.  Gregory  lived  to 
a  good  old  age,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  on 
April  13th  during  the  present  year  (1915). 

[   21    ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Pastorate   of   William   Irvin. 

The  eighth  pastor  was  Rev.  WiUiam  Irvin,  who  was 
called  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Rondout,  N.  Y., 
and  began  his  labors  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  May,  1867, 
and  was  installed  on  the  11th  of  July  following.  He  was 
a  graduate  of  Rutgers  College  and  Princeton  Seminary, 
and  for  a  time  was  instructor  in  that  college,  soon  after 
his  graduation.  He  had  but  one  pastorate  before  he  came 
to  this  church.  The  beginning  of  his  pastorate  here  is 
remembered  by  comparatively  few  persons  in  the  church 
as  there  are  only  fourteen  names  now  remaining  on  the 
church  roll  of  those  who  were  members  at  that  time,  after 
the  lapse  of  over  forty-eight  years. 

There  are  two  events  of  especial  prominence  occur- 
ring under  Dr.  Irvin's  pastorate,  to  wit,  the  formation  of 
the  Young  People's  Christian  Union,  and  the  organization 
of  the  Ninth  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy.  In  each  of 
these  he  had  a  leading  and  guiding  hand. 

Organization   of   Young   People's    Christian    Union. 

The  Young  People's  Christian  Union  was  organized 
in  1867  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting  the  activities  of  the 
young  people  in  Christian  work  and  for  increased  efficiency. 
The  pastor  suggested  to  the  society  its  motto  which  has 
stood  now  for  nearly  a  half  century:  "More  united  and 
earnest  effort  in  the  cause  of  Christ."  It  has  been  a  train- 
ing school  for  many  a  young  man  and  woman  in  the  devel- 
opment of  Christian  life  and  activity.  Its  energies  were  ex- 
ercised and  developed  in  various  ways,  both  within  and 
without  the  borders  of  the  church.  It  has,  ever  since  its 
organization,  maintained  a  meeting  on  Sabbath  evenings 
before  the  regular  service,  and  encouraged  the  idea  of  every 
individual  taking  a  personal  part  in  the  service.   For  many 

[   22    ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCPI     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

years  it  took  a  leading  part  with  other  church  organiza- 
tions of  a  hke  character  in  maintaining,  during  the  summer, 
open  air  services  at  places  beyond  the  church  buildings, 
such  as  the  steamboat  wharf  and  on  Mount  Olympus  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  city.  It  made  a  careful  and 
systematic  distribution  of  tracts  and  religious  papers 
among  the  boatmen  on  the  canal  opposite  our  city,  and 
in  the  saloons  and  other  places.  It  held  religious  services 
at  the  county  almshouse  and  at  the  jail,  and  distributed 
wholesome  reading  matter  there,  and  also  distributed 
personal  comforts  to  those  in  need.  Of  late  years  these 
activities,  or  some  of  them  at  least,  seem  to  have  been 
somewhat  halted  or  restricted.  This  may  be  by  reason  of 
changed  conditions  in  the  community  or  from  some  other 
cause.  It  is  to  be  devoutly  hoped  that  such  conditions 
may  arise  as  will  permit  the  society  to  fully  and  com- 
pletely resume  its  former  Christian  activities,  and  be- 
come the  educative  and  spiritual  power  to  our  young 
people  as  of  old. 

This  society  was  among  the  very  first  of  such  organi- 
zations in  the  country,  and  ante-dates  the  Christian  En- 
deavor movement,  organized  for  a  similar  purpose,  by 
about  fifteen  years.  It  is  pleasant  to  record  that  one  of 
its  organizers  and  its  first  president  is  our  beloved  brother 
in  the  eldership,  Harvey  S.  McLeod,  now  one  of  the  two 
senior  members  of  the  session. 

There  is  one  who  was  associated  with  its  organiza- 
tion and  history,  who  became  its  second  president,  and 
whose  name  will  forever  be  so  intimately  and  conspicu- 
ously linked  with  the  spirituality  and  Christian  activities 
of  this  church,  that  I  would  do  violence  to  the  history  of 
this  church  and  be  false  to  my  own  feelings  as  a  true  chron- 
icler, were  I  not  here  to  pause  and  mention  him  in  this  con- 

[   23   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

nection — Henry  W.  Sherrill.  It  will  be  no  injustice  to 
others — ministers  or  laymen — to  say  that  he  probably 
touched  more  lives  during  the  ten  years  of  his  membership 
and  activity  in  this  church,  by  the  sweetness  of  his  disposi- 
tion, the  gentleness  of  his  spirit,  his  loving  counsel,  his 
marvelous  unselfishness,  his  noble  Christian  character,  his 
complete  consecration  and  his  indefatigable  efforts  to  lead 
young  men  to  Christ,  than  any  other  one  of  his  day  in  this 
whole  community.  Just  forty  years  ago,  September  28, 
1875,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-eight,  he  was  taken  from  his 
earthly  labors,  but  his  name  and  memory  are  still  fragrant 
and  blessed  to  many  who  had  the  rare  privilege  of  being 
associated  with  him  in  service.  He  still  lives  in  the  hearts 
of  many,  both  within  and  beyond  the  bounds  of  this  church, 
who  received  their  first  impulse  toward  the  Christian  life 
through  his  personal  influence.  "Yea,  saith  the  spirit, 
that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors;  and  their  works  do 
follow  them." 

Ninth  Presb5^erian  Church. 
The  other  conspicuous  event  in  Dr.  Irvin's  ministry 
here  was  the  development  and  organization  of  the  Ninth 
Presbyterian  Church  which  was  very  largely  due  to  his 
wise  and  persistent  efforts  in  that  behalf.  Many  years 
before,  and  as  early  as  1846,  a  Sabbath  School  was  organ- 
ized near  Mount  Olympus  and  supervised  by  members  of 
this  church.  After  a  term  of  suspension  it  w^as  reorganized 
in  1856  under  the  auspices  of  the  former  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  and  under  the  superintendency  of 
Mr,  Frederick  P.  Allen,  afterwards  an  honored  Elder  in 
this  church.  Following  a  second  suspension  it  was  finally 
placed  under  the  care  of  this  church  in  1866.  It  grew  so 
rapidly  as  to  demand  greater  accommodations  in  a  field 
that  gave  great  promise,  and  in  1868  an  effort  was  begun 

[  24  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF    TROY,     N.     Y. 

to  provide  a  chapel  for  that  purpose.  Over  $13,000  were 
subscribed  in  a  brief  period,  mostly  by  members  of  this 
church,  and  four  lots  were  purchased  on  the  corner  of 
North  Second  (now  Fifth  Avenue) and  Jay  Streets,  and  by 
December,  1868,  a  brick  chapel  accommodating  four  hun- 
dred was  finished  and  occupied  by  the  Sabbath  School. 
Regular  service  also  was  held  on  Sabbath  afternoons 
conducted  by  the  pastor,  Dr.  Irvin,  and  others  until  May, 
1868,  when  this  church  invited  Rev.  Ninian  B.  Remick, 
just  graduated  from  Union  Theological  Seminary  to  take 
charge  of  the  enterprise.  The  church  was  organized  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Troy  on  September  30,  1869,  under  the 
name  of  the  Ninth  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy,  with 
eighty-one  members,  very  largely  drawn  from  this  church, 
and  who  were  residing  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  new 
church.  Mr.  Remick  was  installed  as  pastor  of  that  church 
October  28,  1869.  Through  his  wise  and  efficient  leader- 
ship the  church  had  a  wonderful  growth,  became  one  of 
the  strong  churches  of  the  city  and  Presbytery,  and  grew 
to  a  membership  of  over  six  hundred. 

Of  all  the  home  missionary  enterprises  in  this  city 
there  is  none  that  can  be  pointed  to  with  greater  pride 
and  satisfaction  by  any  church  than  that  of  this  church  in 
the  initiation  and  development  of  the  Ninth  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Troy.  To  William  Irvin,  then  pastor,  aided 
by  the  noble  men  then  in  the  official  boards  of  this  church, 
is  due  the  credit  of  this  splendid  monument  of  Christian 
enterprise  and  devotion. 

In  1875  Dr.  Irvin  took  an  active  part  in  a  special  re- 
vival effort  among  the  various  churches  of  the  city  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Earle,  evangelist,  which 
resulted  in  a  general  spiritual  awakening  throughout  the 
city.     As  a  result,  this  church  profited  very  largely  from 

[   25   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

that  work.  In  the  report  to  Presbytery  in  the  spring  of 
1876,  there  were  reported  as  received  into  its  communion 
during  the  preceding  year,  one  hundred  and  three  mem- 
bers, two-thirds  of  whom  were  received  on  profession  of 
their  faith. 

Dr.  Irvin  labored  here  most  acceptably  and  effectively 
for  almost  twenty  years,  his  being  the  longest  pastorate 
of  this  church,  and  until  March,  1887,  when  he  resigned 
to  accept  a  call  to  become  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the 
Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
U.  S.  A.  In  this  office  he  labored  for  about  five  years  and 
never  thereafter  took  up  a  settled  pastorate.  On  many 
occasions  Dr.  Irvin  returned  to  take  part  in  some  function 
of  the  church  and  to  supply  the  pulpit,  and  was  always 
received  by  his  former  people  with  the  deepest  regard  and 
affectionate  demonstration.  For  many  years  after  his 
retirement  from  the  secretaryship  of  the  Home  Board, 
Dr.  Irvin  resided  abroad,  mostly  in  France  and  Germany, 
and  passed  away  in  Berlin  on  the  22nd  day  of  February, 
1909,  in  his  seventy-sixth  year. 

Hector   Hall,    Ninth    Pastor. 

In  July,  1887,  Rev.  Hector  Hall,  of  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, preached  for  three  Sabbaths  as  a  vacation  supply 
in  this  pulpit.  Even  in  midsummer  large  congregations 
attended  the  services.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  engage- 
ment the  people  expressed  their  desire  to  have  him  called 
to  the  pastorate,  and  at  a  congregational  meeting  called 
for  that  purpose  later  in  the  month,  a  call  was  heartily 
extended  to  him.  After  Mr.  Hall's  return  to  Glasgow  he 
accepted  the  call  and  was  installed  on  the  17th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1887.  The  new  pastor  brought  with  him  a  ripe  expe- 
rience, rare  scholarship,  extraordinary  biblical  knowledge, 

[   20   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

a  Strong  personality  and  a  zeal  for  service  which  made  his 
pastorate  of  nearly  fifteen  years  one  of  success,  helpful- 
ness and  spiritual  uplift.  Dr.  Hall  soon  took  a  leading 
position  in  the  Presbytery  and  became  an  authority  on 
subjects  of  Bible  interpretation  and  exposition.  His  style 
of  preaching  was  largely  expository,  but  often  in  the  de- 
velopment of  his  subject  and  in  making  his  application 
he  would  become  in  his  enthusiasm  a  veritable  Boanerges. 
In  his  pastoral  work  he  was  particularly  effective,  kind, 
sympathetic  and  affectionate.  During  his  term  the  usual 
and  steady  additions  were  made  to  the  membership.  Un- 
der his  advice  and  counsel  a  large  number  of  names  were 
stricken  from  the  roll  or  suspended  by  reason  of  removal 
without  formal  dismission  and  other  causes,  being  the 
accumulation  of  many  years. 

During  the  Spanish-American  War  in  1898,  Dr.  Hall 
was  appointed  Chaplain  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  In- 
fantry going  from  this  locality,  and  faithfully  served  in 
the  southern  camps  for  several  months,  during  which 
period  he  was  given  a  leave  of  absence  from  his  pastoral 
duties,  which  he  resumed  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

On  the  14th  day  of  March,  1902,  Dr.  Hall  read  to  the 
Session  his  purpose  of  closing  his  formal  ministry  in  this 
church  in  which  he  says,  "I  have  for  some  considerable 
time  past  been  contemplating  the  propriety  of  withdraw- 
ing from  the  more  active  and  stated  duties  of  the  Christian 
Ministry  and  of  yielding  place  to  a  younger  and  abler  man. 
I  am  in  my  thirty-fifth  year  of  ordained  pastoral  work  and 
feel  the  need  of  a  period  of  retirement  and  rest.  There- 
fore, with  your  consent  at  its  approaching  meeting,  I  will 
place  my  resignation  in  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery. 
I  only  desire  you  to  believe  that  the  memory  of  you  all 
personally  and  your  uniform  kindness  to  me   and  mine 

[   27    ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

will  abide  with  me  while  life  endures,  as  one  of  the  dearest 
treasures  of  my  heart." 

In  the  minute  adopted  by  the  congregational  meeting 
called  to  act  on  Dr.  Hall's  resignation  there  occurred  the 
following  passages: 

"During  the  entire  period  of  his  pastorate,  Dr.  Hall 
has  labored  patiently  and  unceasingly  for  the  welfare  of 
this  church. 

"By  his  unfailing  kindness  and  Christian  courtesy,  he 
has  endeared  himself  to  its  members.  His  ministry  has 
been  one  of  unvarying  service,  with  heart  and  life  conse- 
crated to  his  chosen  calling.  His  kind  and  loving  minis- 
trations will  always  be  a  blessed  memory  to  this  people. 
His  extraordinary  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures  and  his 
clear,  forceful  and  straightforward  presentation  of  Bible 
truth  have  always  been  an  incentive  to  us  to  further  study 
and  research  in  the  Scriptures,  and  have  been  an  inspiration 
to  attain  to  a  higher  plane  of  Christian  living." 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  Hall  was  accepted  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Troy,  April  22,  1902,  to  take  effect  the  last 
Sabbath  of  April. 

Renovation  and  Improvement  of   Church  Building. 

The  subject  of  the  observance  of  the  Seventy-fifth 
Anniversary  of  the  church  at  some  time  during  the  year 
1901,  was  presented  at  a  meeting  of  the  Session  held  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1901,  and  it  was  referred  to  a  committee  to  con- 
sider and  report  later.  Subsequently  the  committee  re- 
ported that  a  question  had  arisen  whether  such  an  anni- 
versary should  be  held  with  the  church  building  so  seri- 
ously out  of  repair,  nothing  having  been  done  to  the  in- 
terior for  over  twenty  years.  The  matter  was  finally 
referred  to  a  joint  committee  of  Session  and  Trustees.   At 

[   28   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

such  meeting  it  was  expressed  that  a  renovation  of  the 
church  building  would  be  of  greater  benefit  to  the  church 
than  the  observance  of  an  anniversary,  if  both  could  not 
be  had.  They  thereafter  appointed  a  committee  consisting 
of  Robert  Cluett,  Harvey  S.  McLeod,  Frank  Van  Dusen, 
Edwin  A.  Frear  and  William  H.  HolHster,  Jr.,  taken  from 
the  Session  and  Trustees,  and  authorized  such  committee 
to  have  prepared  by  a  competent  architect  a  set  of  plans 
for  repairs,  alterations  and  improvements,  such  as  the  com- 
mittee should  deem  advisable,  and  submit  the  same  to  a 
subsequent  meeting.  The  committee  procured  Mr.  Fred 
M.  Cummings,  an  architect,  who  prepared  elaborate  in- 
terior plans  with  estimate  of  cost.  After  inspection  the 
joint  boards  determined  to  submit  the  whole  matter  of 
plans  and  cost  to  the  congregation  at  a  morning  service 
during  the  month  of  April.  Thereupon  on  the  day  ap- 
pointed, the  plans  were  presented  and  explained,  occupy- 
ing the  whole  morning  service,  and  the  same  were  ap- 
proved and  the  work  authorized  with  hearty  unanimity. 

The  same  committee  was  continued  and  empowered 
to  raise  the  funds  and  proceed  with  the  work.  The  com- 
mittee procured  subscriptions  for  over  $20,000  and  in 
July  the  work  of  repairs  and  alterations  was  begun.  For 
nearly  eleven  months  during  the  repairs  the  congregation 
held  all  services  in  the  chapel.  The  auditorium  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  for  services  on  the  third  Sabbath  of 
May,  1902.  The  entire  interior  of  the  church  had  been 
changed  both  as  to  architecture  and  decorations.  The 
extensive  galleries  were  removed,  only  a  balcony  remain- 
ing at  the  eastern  end,  the  organ  was  rebuilt,  entirely  new 
glass  in  windows,  several  class  rooms  made,  and  specially 
designed  new  pews  placed.  A  new  and  costly  brown  stone 
and  elaborately  carved  porch  was  added  as  a  special  gift 

[   29   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

of  Elder  Robert  Cluett,  as  a  memorial  to  his  father  and 
mother.  The  entire  outlay,  including  cost  of  construction 
of  the  porch  and  refurnishing,  exceeded  $40,000. 

Although  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Hall  had  terminated 
with  the  last  Sabbath  of  April  he  was  requested  to  con- 
tinue his  services  to  include  the  opening  of  the  recon- 
structed auditorium,  which  he  did,  the  house  being  en- 
tirely filled  on  that  occasion. 

Although  thirteen  years  have  passed  since  the  resig- 
nation of  Dr.  Hall,  it  has  been,  and  is,  a  source  of  great 
satisfaction  to  the  people  and  to  the  succeeding  pastors, 
to  have  him  yet  with  us,  after  the  lapse  of  the  fourscore 
years  allotment,  modestly  and  faithfully  rendering  such 
service  as  he  may  be  able  to  render  from  time  to  time, 
helping,  cheering,  and  comforting  many  of  this  flock  in 
the  spirit  of  the  Master,  and  beloved  by  both  pastor  and 
people.  We  are  truly  honored  this  day  in  having  him 
present  to  participate  in  this  reopening  service. 

Pastorate   of  C.   Waldo   Cherry. 

After  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Hall,  the  church  was 
without  a  pastor  until  March,  1903,  when  an  unanimous 
call  was  extended  to  Rev.  C.  Waldo  Cherry,  of  Parnassus, 
Pa.,  who  accepted  the  same  and  was  installed  on  the  9th 
day  of  May,  1903,  the  sermon  on  that  occasion  being 
preached  by  Rev.  A.  C.  Sewall,  D.D.,  of  the  Second  Street 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy,  the  charge  to  the  people  by 
Rev.  William  M.  Johnson,  D.D.,  of  the  Silliman  Memorial 
Church  of  Cohoes,  and  the  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev. 
George  Dugan,  of  the  Ninth  Church  of  Troy.  Mr.  Cherry 
was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College  and  of  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary.  He  came  in  all  the  strength,  vigor 
and  enthusiasm  of  his  young  manhood,  being  about  thirty 

[   30   ] 


SECOND     PRESRYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

years  of  age,  and  at  once  took  a  strong  hold  on  the  church 
and  community  by  his  pulpit  work  and  general  leadership. 
He  was  popular  with  the  young  people  and  soon  secured 
a  firm  grip  on  them  and  enlisted  them  in  the  service  of 
the  church.  He  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the 
Brotherhood  of  the  Church  in  1906,  which  as  a  social 
factor  soon  became  a  vigorous  association,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  over  one  hundred  men,  and  for  the  last  few 
years  has  been  active  in  many  things,  especially  material 
changes  and  improvements  of  the  church. 

The  electric  lighting  of  the  chapel  and  the  changes  in 
the  interior  glass,  the  laying  of  a  concrete  sidewalk  in  the 
front  of  the  church,  the  installation  of  an  ear  phone, 
whereby  those  of  defective  hearing  in  the  congregation 
may  hear  and  more  fully  participate  in  the  service,  and 
invalids  or  "shut-ins"  may  enjoy  such  service  by  tele- 
phone connection  between  the  pulpit  and  their  homes,  are 
among  the  improvements  accredited  to  the  Brotherhood. 

Among  the  objects  of  the  Brotherhood  as  stated  in 
the  constitution,  are,  "to  aid  the  pastor  and  Session,  to 
give  a  definite  work  to  every  man  in  the  church;  to  enlist 
their  activity  in  Christian  life  and  increase  their  devotion 
in  the  church,  and  to  work  among  men  who  are  not 
Christians,  to  the  end  that  they  may  attend  church  ser- 
vices and  eventually  become  professing  Christians."  It 
can  and  will  surely  become  also  a  further  and  increasing 
spiritual  power  if  it  shall  carry  out  the  program  of  its 
purposes. 

Mr.  Cherry  soon  grew  into  the  foremost  rank  as  a 
preacher,  and  had  an  extraordinary  power  and  style  of 
expression,  and  presented  the  truth  in  an  eloquent,  yet 
simple,  manner.  After  receiving  and  declining  several 
calls   elsewhere,   and   after   eleven   years   of   faithful   and 

[  31  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

successful  service  in  this  church,  Mr.  Cherry  received  an 
unanimous  call  to  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Rochester,  one  of  the  largest  in  our  denomination,  and  his 
resignation  being  accepted  with  much  regret,  he  v^as  dis- 
missed by  the  Presbytery  of  Troy  on  the  21st  day  of  April, 
1914,  to  take  up  the  work  in  his  new  field. 

Call   of   William  L.  Sawtelle. 

At  the  congregational  meeting  held  on  the  27th  day 
of  February,  1914,  when  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Cherry 
was  acted  on,  a  committee  composed  of  elders,  trustees, 
deacons  and  unofificial  members  of  the  congregation,  was 
appointed  to  take  steps  to  procure  and  nominate  a  new 
pastor,  with  this  suggestion,  that  "when  the  person  unani- 
mously agreed  upon  by  the  committee  should  be  presented, 
such  person  would  be  deemed  worthy  of  favorable  con- 
sideration by  the  congregation,  in  the  absence  of  any  facts 
to  the  contrary."  The  committee  was  composed  as 
follows:  Robert  Cluett,  Burton  K.  Woodward,  John  T. 
Birge  and  William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.,  from  the  Session; 
William  B.  Frear  and  Thomas  R.  Lawson,  from  the 
Trustees;  James  A.  Beattie  and  Edwin  A.  Grimes,  from 
the  Deacons,  and  Oscar  A.  Freemyer  and  Robert  B. 
Reeves,  from  the  congregation.  The  committee  was  just 
six  weeks,  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Cherry,  in  finding 
such  a  man;  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  duly 
called  for  that  purpose  on  the  2nd  day  of  July,  1914,  the 
name  of  Rev.  William  L.  Sawtelle,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  a 
graduate  of  Williams  College  (1894)  and  of  Auburn  Sem- 
inary (1897),  was  unanimously  presented  by  the  commit- 
tee as  one  possessing,  in  their  judgment,  all  the  require- 
ments and  qualifications  for  the  pastorate,  and  thereupon 
by  a  standing  vote  of  the  one  hundred  seventy-five  mem- 

[   33   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

bers  present,  the  judgment  of  the  committee  was  ratified, 
and  Mr.  Sawtelle  was  extended  an  unanimous  call  to  be- 
come the  pastor.  In  due  time  the  call  was  accepted  and 
Mr.  Sawtelle  was  installed  on  the  13th  day  of  October, 
1914,  as  the  eleventh  pastor  of  this  church,  and  is  now 
making  history  for  himself  and  for  the  church,  through 
the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  the  sympathy  and 
support  of  a  satisfied,  loving  and  loyal  people.  At  his  in- 
stallation the  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  George  A. 
Armstrong  of  Silliman  Memorial  Church,  Cohoes;  the 
charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  Charles  H.  Walker,  First 
Church,  Lansingburgh ;  the  charge  to  the  people  by  Rev. 
C  Waldo  Cherry,  retiring  pastor,  and  the  installation 
prayer  by  Rev.  Alvin  C.  Sawtelle,  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y., 
brother  of  the  pastor. 

Sons  of  the  Church  Who  Have  Gone  into  the  Ministry. 

This  church  has  a  record  of  fifteen  young  men  from 
its  membership  who  have  been  ordained  to  the  Christian 
ministry,  as  follows:  Norman  Kellogg,  Merwin  H. 
Stewart,  Henry  Augustus  Boardman,  John  Jay  Dana, 
Paul  Eugene  Stevenson,  William  R.  Durnett,  John  K. 
Davis,  Henry  Willard,  John  M.  Allis,  Valentine  A.  Lewis, 
John  Henry  Lockwood,  James  Henry  Ross,  Thomas 
Blatchford  Boughton,  Dwight  Edwards  Marvin  and 
Joseph  Hillman  Hollister. 

It  may  be  of  historical  interest  to  consider  briefly 
the  record  of  some  of  the  sons  of  the  church  concerning 
whom  facts  have  been  obtainable  and  to  whose  Christian 
accomplishments  this  church  may  point  with  a  great 
degree  of  satisfaction. 

Of  some  of  the  earlier  names  there  seems  to  be  no 
record  whatever  preserved  other  than  the  meagre  mem- 

[  33   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

oranda  on  our  church  register,  and  concerning  whom 
further  information  seems  impossible  to  be  obtained. 

Rev.  Norman  Kellogg  was  at  one  time  settled  at 
Mishawaka,  111. 

Rev.  John  Jay  Dana  is  recorded  to  have  settled  at 
Canaan,  N.  Y.,  in  1847,  and  at  some  time  in  Adams,  Mass. 

Rev.  Paul  Eugene  Stevenson  was  installed  at  one 
time  over  a  Presbyterian  Church  at  Staunton,  Va. 

Rev.  Henry  Willard  for  many  years  was  a  pastor  in 
Illinois. 

Perhaps  the  most  noted  of  the  church's  children  was 
the  Rev.  Henry  Augustus  Boardman,  D.D.  He  was  born 
in  Troy,  January  8,  1808;  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1829  as  valedictorian  of  his  class;  entered  Princeton  Sem- 
inary in  1830;  ordained  by  the  Third  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Tenth  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Philadelphia  in  1833,  which  church  he  served 
until  1876  as  his  first  and  only  pastorate,  for  a  period  of 
forty-three  years.  Thereafter  he  held  the  relation  of 
pastor  emeritus  until  his  decease  in  1880,  in  his  seventy- 
third  year.  In  1854  Dr.  Boardman  was  chosen  moderator 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  (Old 
School).  He  was  a  director  of  Princeton  Seminary  from 
1835  until  his  decease  in  1880.  He  was  prominent  in  all 
the  church's  assemblies,  wise  in  his  counsels,  of  large 
literary  attainments,  and  the  author  of  a  number  of 
volumes  on  themes  of  public  interest.  While  Dr.  Board- 
man  was  of  the  conservative  school  in  theology,  he  always 
commanded  the  respect  and  admiration  of  his  opponents 
by  his  fair  and  courteous  treatment  both  of  them  and  the 
subjects  of  controversy. 

The  foreign  field  has  been  most  faithfully  served  by 
the  Rev.  John  Mather  Allis,  D.D.,  who  was  born  in  Dan- 

[   34   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y, 

ville,  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  in  1839,  and  became 
a  member  of  this  church  in  1859.  He  was  educated  at 
Princeton  College,  graduated  in  1866,  and  finished  his 
theological  course  at  Union  Seminary,  New  York  City, 
in  1869.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Albany 
in  1870.  His  first  pastorate  was  in  Lansing,  Mich.,  from 
1871  to  1875,  and  from  1875  to  1883  served  as  stated 
supply  in  several  churches  in  California,  Ohio  and  Indiana. 
In  1883  he  was  appointed  by  the  Foreign  Missionary  Board 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  take  charge  of  a  normal 
training  department  for  native  teachers  which  was  pro- 
posed to  be  established  in  Valparaiso,  Chile,  but  the  plan 
was  not  consummated  and  thereupon  he  took  charge  of 
the  theological  training  of  native  ministers  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbyterian  Mission  at  Santiago,  and  became 
the  president  of  this  mission.  In  the  prosecution  of  his 
work  he  travelled  the  whole  length  of  the  Republic  of 
Chile  preaching  the  gospel  with  great  fervor  and  effective- 
ness. He  died  at  Valparaiso  after  sixteen  years  of  faithful 
labors,  in  1899,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years. 

Rev.  Valentine  A.  Lewis  was  born  in  London,  Eng- 
land, and  was  received  into  this  church  in  1860.  He  be- 
came a  student  at  Princeton  College  and  was  graduated 
there  in  1863.  In  connection  with  his  college  course  he 
studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Duryea,  then 
the  pastor  of  this  church,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Troy  in  January,  1864.  During  his  student  course 
at  Princeton  he  went  from  Troy  with  the  Second  Regiment 
U.  S.  Volunteers,  as  Chaplain,  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
and  in  1861  he  was  stationed  at  Fortress  Monroe,  but  this 
service  continued  for  only  a  few  months  as  the  govern- 
ment determined  not  to  allow  an  unordained  person  to  be 
a  chaplain  in  the  Army.     From  1864  to  1888  he  served  in 

[  35  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

the  following  pastorates:  Port  Chester,  N.  Y. ;  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  Hillside,  Mich.;  Port  Byron,  N.  Y. ;  Phelps, 
N.  Y. ;  Napa,  Cal.,  and  Boston,  Mass.  He  died  at  Dans- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  in  1899. 

Rev.  John  Henry  Lockwood  was  born  in  Troy  and 
became  a  member  of  this  church  in  1866  upon  certificate 
from  the  Second  Street  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy. 
He  entered  Williams  College  and  was  there  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1868.  His  theological  course  was  taken  at 
Princeton  Seminary,  graduating  in  1871.  During  his 
Seminary  course  he  became  a  member  of  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church,  New  York  City,  and  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  the  spring  of 

1870,  and  during  that  year  he  spent  some  time  in  Minne- 
sota under  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Home  Missions, 
and  organized  a  Presbyterian  Church  at  Wells,  Minn. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  classis  of  Cayuga  in  1871  and 
installed  over  the  Reformed  Church  of  Canastota  in  No- 
vember of  that  year.  In  May,  1873,  he  became  the  pastor 
of  the  New  England  Congregational  Church  of  Brooklyn, 
in  1879  was  installed  over  the  First  Congregational  Church 
of  Westfield,  Mass.,  and  continued  there  in  the  active  pas- 
torate until  1896,  when  he  retired  and  became  pastor 
emeritus.  After  his  retirement  from  the  active  pastorate 
he  removed  to  Springfield,  Mass.,  where  he  now  resides 
(1916). 

Rev.  Dwight  Edwards  Marvin,  D.D.,  was  born  in 
Greenwich,  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  February  22,  1851. 
He  became  a  member  of  this  church  upon  certificate  from 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Nyack,   N.  Y.,  in  June, 

1871.  From  that  time  and  for  several  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  active  business  life  in  the  City  of  Troy  and  de- 
voted much  of  his  time  and  energy  to  the  activities  and 

[   36   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

interests  of  this  church,  especially  in  connection  with  the 
Young  People's  Christian  Union.  These  activities  are 
remembered  by  many  of  his  associates  of  that  day  with 
great  pleasure  and  in  some  measure  doubtless  contributed 
to  his  further  successful  labors  in  the  ministry.  He  took 
his  theological  course  at  Auburn  Theological  Seminary 
and  graduated  in  1880,  thereafter  pursuing  a  post-grad- 
uate course  at  Union  Theological  Seminary  of  New  York. 
In  1881  he  was  ordained  by  a  Congregational  Council  and 
became  the  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  at 
East  Albany  (now  Rensselaer)  where  he  continued  in  his 
pastorate  until  1884.  Subsequently  he  became  pastor  of 
the  following  churches,  to  wit :  Plymouth  Congregational 
Church,  Utica,  N.  Y.,  from  1884  to  1888;  First  Congrega- 
tional Church,  Germantown,  Philadelphia,  from  1888  to 
1900;  First  Congregational  Church,  Asbury  Park,  N.  J., 
from  1900  to  1902;  Flatbush  Presbyterian  Church,  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  from  1902  to  1910. 

In  1911  after  his  retirement  from  the  active  pastorate 
he  took  up  his  residence  at  Summit,  N.  J.,  where  he  still 
resides  (1916).  Dr.  Marvin  devoted  much  time  to  literary 
work  and  has  become  the  author  of  several  volumes  which 
have  been  published  and  very  largely  circulated  on  the 
following  topics:  Winning  Souls;  The  Christ  Man;  The 
Church  and  Her  Prophets;  How  to  Excel;  Common  Sense 
Parents,  and  Curiosities  in  Proverbs. 

Rev.  James  Henry  Ross  was  born  in  Troy  August 
21,  1851,  and  was  received  into  the  membership  of  this 
church  in  1866  upon  examination.  His  preparatory  course 
was  taken  at  the  Troy  High  School  and  he  entered  Prince- 
ton College  in  1870,  graduating  there  in  the  class  of  1874. 
He  made  an  excellent  reputation  while  in  college  as  a 
writer  and  speaker,  taking  the  highest  honors  given  for 

[    37   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

these  accomplishments.  His  theological  course  was  be- 
gun in  Union  Seminary,  New  York  City,  and  completed 
at  Princeton  Seminary,  where  he  graduated  in  1877.  He 
was  ordained  by  an  Ecclesiastical  Congregational  Coun- 
cil at  Newburyport,  Mass.,  February  22,  1878,  and  at  the 
same  time  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Fourth  (after- 
wards Prospect  Street)  Congregational  Church  of  New- 
buryport, which  he  served  until  1882.  He  was  pastor  of 
the  Congregation^al  Church  at  South  Norwalk,  Conn., 
from  1884  to  1888,  and  of  the  Franklin  Street  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  East  Somerville,  Mass.,  from  1888  to 
1893.  Thereafter  he  had  no  settled  pastorate.  After  1894 
Mr.  Ross  devoted  himself  largely  to  journalism  and  pub- 
lished a  number  of  sermons  and  essays.  In  1894  he  pub- 
lished the  Life  of  Robert  Ross,  Martyr,  and  in  1901, 
Hymns  and  Singers  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation. He  was  greatly  interested  in  hymnology  and  pub- 
lished many  articles  upon  that  subject  in  the  religious 
press.  He  edited  the  proceedings  of  the  American  Mis- 
sionary Association  during  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life. 
For  some  time  before  his  decease  his  health  had  been  very 
seriously  impaired  and  he  died  at  Clifton  Springs,  N.  Y., 
December  7,  1907,  in  his  fifty-seventh  year  and  was  buried 
at  Newburyport,  the  place  of  his  first  pastorate. 

The  church  has  been  very  successfully  represented  in 
the  Home  Mission  Field  of  the  West  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Blatchford  Boughton,  a  son  of  a  beloved  Elder  of  this 
church,  Ezra  W.  Boughton.  He  was  born  in  Troy  Sep- 
tember 4,  1859,  and  was  received  into  membership  of  this 
church  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  in  the  year  1871.  He 
received  his  preparatory  education  in  the  Troy  Public 
Schools ;  entered  Lafayette  College  and  was  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1881.     He  taught  one  year  in  the  Troy 

[   38   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

High  School  after  graduation,  and  thereafter  in  1882  en- 
tered Union  Theological  Seminary  at  New  York,  and  com- 
pleted his  course  at  that  institution.  Immediately  there- 
after he  took  up  home  missionary  work  in  Parker,  South 
Dakota,  under  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Home  Missions 
where  he  remained  for  fourteen  years.  He  organized  and 
served  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Parker, 
which  soon  became  self-sustaining,  and  organized  also, 
and  supplied  during  much  of  that  period,  two  other 
churches  within  a  radius  of  nine  miles.  By  reason  of  im- 
paired health  he  retired  from  pastoral  work  in  1899.  In 
1907  he  became  librarian  and  student  adviser  in  Huron 
College,  South  Dakota,  where  he  died  April  23,  1909, 
while  in  the  active  work  of  the  college.  His  whole  life 
was  therefore  devoted  to  Christian  activities  in  the  Home 
Mission  field  of  South  Dakota,  and  he  is  remembered  with 
the  greatest  affection  by  many  in  the  church  who  knew 
him  both  as  a  youth,  and  as  actively  engaged  in  the 
Christian  ministry. 

The  latest  of  the  fifteen  young  men  of  this  church  to 
enter  the  ministry,  and  the  only  one  now  in  the  active  pas- 
torate, is  Rev.  Joseph  Hillman  HoUister,  also  a  son  of  an 
elder,  who  was  born  in  Troy,  March  22,  1882,  and  united 
with  this  church  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  He  was  pre- 
pared for  college  at  the  Troy  academy ;  entered  Williams 
College  in  1900,  and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1904. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered  Union  Theological 
Seminary  at  New  York  and  completed  his  course  in  1907. 
At  graduation  he  was  called  to  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Valatie,  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  there 
ordained  and  installed  into  the  pastorate  of  that  church  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Columbia  in  July,  1907.  He  remained  in 
that  pastorate  for  four  years.     In  March,    1911,   he  was 

[  39  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N 


called  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Mount  Vernon, 
Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  installed  in  June 
following.     He  is  now  (1916)  pastor  of  that  church. 

The   Elders. 

Conspicuous  for  faithfulness  and  devotion  to  the  church 
as  is  the  record  of  its  eleven  pastors,  it  can  be  said  with 
justice  and  truthfulness,  that  the  record  of  its  eldership 
has  not  fallen  behind  in  those  qualities. 

There  have  been  forty-nine  Elders  chosen  since  its 
organization.  They  were  elected  and  have  served  as 
follows : 


In 

1827 — Gurdon  Corning  Served  until 

1842 — Dismissed 

James  Wallace 

« 
« 

« 

1842 — Died  in  service 

Alsop  Weed  

1864 — Died  in  service 

Gurdon   Grant    

" 

" 

1837 — Dismissed 

In 

1830 — Stephen  W.  Dana  

Abram   Nash    

Hezekiah  Thayer   

Abram  Van  Tuyl   

George  Vail    

(( 

« 

1846 — Died  in  service 
1834 — Dismissed 
1843 — Dismissed 
1838 — Dismissed 
1834 — Dismissed 

In 

1839 — Joseph   H.   Shepard    

i( 

« 

1842 — Dismissed 

Thomas  W.  Blatchford  . . 

<( 

" 

1842 — Dismissed 

Charles  H.  Kellogg 

" 

« 

1847 — Dismissed 

Ebenezer  Bell 

K 

« 

1866 — Died  in  service 

Robert  D.  Silliman 

« 

<( 

1866 — Died  in  service 

Tn 

1843^ — Gurdon   Grant    

1S61 — Died  in  service 

(Returned  and  re-elected) 

Daniel    Sackett    

(( 

" 

1845 — Died  in  service 

John  F.  Rogers 

" 

" 

1851 — Dismissed 

Harvey  Church   

« 

« 

1877 — Died  in  service 

Ezra  W.  Boughton 

« 

" 

1892 — Died  in  service 

In 

1849 — William  Wheeler    

" 

" 

1851 — Dismissed 

Zenophen   Haywood    .... 

<( 

« 

1855 — Dismissed 

Homer  Merriam   

« 

" 

185s — Dismissed 

Elisha  Talmadge 

« 

" 

1858 — Died  in  service 

Tn 

1857 — Peter  McDoual    

« 
« 

l( 

i860 — Died  in  service 

Hiram  D.  Pierce 

1866 — Died  in  service 

John  Harrison 

<f 

« 

1901 — Died  in  service 

Edward  N.  Dauchy 

1868 — Dismissed 

In 

1862 — Eleazer  A.  Peck   

« 

" 

1887 — Died  in  service 

T.  Newton  Willson   

" 

« 

1889 — Died  in  service 

Frederick  P.  Allen  

it 

" 

191 1 — Died  in  service 

Franklin  Field 

« 

« 

1904 — Died  in  service 

In 

1884 — Harvey  S.  McLeod 

William  H.  Hollister,  Jr. 

— Still   serving 
— Still   serving 

[   40   ] 


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Photographs  of  all  who  have  served  as  Elden 

from  its  organization 


The  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy, 
827  to  April,  19 1 7. 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Andrew   Sawyer    Served  un* i!     1891 — Dismissed 

In  1888— William  V.  Baker "  "       191 1— Died  in  service 

John   C.  House   "  "       1897— Died  in  service 

James  H.  Potts   "  "       1891— Released     from 

the  Eldership  at 
own   request. 

Robert  Cluett —Still   serving 

In  1891— Edwin  A.  Frear "  "       1905— Released     from 

active      service 
and    afterwards 
dismissed. 
Charles  D.  Campbell  ....        "  "       1895 — Dismissed 

Edward  H.  Boughton  . .  .  — Still   serving 

In  1903 — Charles  D.  Campbell — Still   serving 

(Returned  and  re-elected) 

John  T.  Birge   — Still   serving 

Charles  S.  Dean   — Still   serving 

William  Hagen   — Still   serving 

Burton  K.  Woodward  . . .  — Still   serving 

Lewis  W.  Raymond — Still   serving 

In  1907 — Edwin  Veghte   "  "       1909 — Dismissed 

Martin  H.  Walrath — Still   serving 

George  B.  Ehrmann — Still   serving 

William  H.  Breese,  Jr.   . .  — Still   serving 


Of  the  forty-nine  Elders  who  have  been  thus  chosen, 
twelve  now  remain  in  active  service.  Those  who  have 
passed  to  their  reward  have  been  men  of  great  consecration 
to  the  work  of  the  church,  and  are  deserving  of  all  honor 
as  faithful  and  efficient  servants  of  the  church  they  dearly 
loved.  They  were  men  of  sterling  character  and  deep 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  While 
it  may  not  be  possible  here  to  record  at  length  their  biog- 
raphies, yet  they  are  all  well  worthy  of  such  mention  and 
some  of  them  are  well  remembered  by  many  of  our  pres- 
ent membership,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  they  be- 
gan their  official  life  in  the  church's  early  history  and 
nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago. 

Harvey  Church  and  Ezra  W.  Boughton  were  chosen 
to  the  eldership  in  1843,  only  sixteen  years  after  the 
church's  beginning,  and  yet  their  faces  are  familiarly  re- 
membered by  many  present  to-day.     The  former  united 

[   41   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

with  the  church  three  years  after  its  organization,  and  for 
about  twenty  years  was  the  Clerk  of  the  Session.  It  is  said 
of  him  that  he  knew  much  of  the  personal  history  of  nearly 
every  one  whose  name  had  been  enrolled  in  the  member- 
ship. He  had  a  warm  sympathy  with,  and  a  great  interest 
in,  young  people.  The  writer  well  remembers  that  even  in 
Elder  Church's  advanced  years,  he  was  rarely  absent  from 
any  meeting  of  the  Young  People's  Christian  Union, 
usually  leading  in  the  service  of  song  with  his  high  and 
clear  tenor  voice. 

Ezra  W.  Boughton  became  as  a  youth  a  member  of 
the  Sabbath  School  at  its  organization,  and  continued 
such  as  either  scholar,  teacher  or  superintendent  for  about 
sixty  years,  and  until  physical  infirmities  prohibited  his 
activities,  thus  extending  his  Sabbath  School  experiences 
over  the  first  nine  pastorates  of  the  church — a  record 
unique  in  its  history.  Elder  Boughton's  term  of  service  con- 
tinued until  within  a  few  months  of  a  half  century;  during 
that  time  it  has  been  said  of  him  that  the  work  of  the 
church  became  and  continued  to  be  the  one  enthusiasm 
of  his  life.  His  kindly  sympathy,  his  cordial  greeting  and 
the  great  generosity  of  his  nature  will  ever  remain  in  the 
memory  of  those  who  had  the  privilege  of  association 
with  him. 

Following  in  close  recollection  is  Elder  John  Har- 
rison, who  was  elected  in  1857,  and  who  served  for  nearly 
forty-four  years,  and  until  the  time  of  his  decease.  Big 
in  body  and  great  in  soul,  his  noble  nature  responded  to 
every  call  of  duty  and  personal  sympathy,  and  nothing 
was  too  much  or  too  difficult  for  him  to  undertake  when 
the  call  came. 

In  1862  another  class  of  elders  was  chosen.  These 
were  all  men  strong  in  purpose  and  character  who  served 
the  church  with  both  zeal  and  efficiency. 

[   42   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y 

Elder  Eleazer  A.  Peck,  who  may  be  termed  and  re- 
membered as  the  "beloved  John"  of  the  Session,  served 
for  twenty-five  years;  Prof.  T.  Newton  Wilson,  scholar 
and  teacher,  served  for  twenty-seven  years;  Franklin 
Field,  friend,  companion,  and  wise  adviser  to  all  who 
sought  his  counsels,  served  for  forty-two  years,  twenty- 
two  years  of  which  were  as  the  Clerk  of  the  Session,  and 
Frederick  P.  Allen,  brilliant  in  thought  and  faithful  in 
service,  continued  to  within  three  months  of  the  half- 
century  mark,  the  longest  term  in  the  church's  history. 
These  were  strong  men  in  their  day  and  made  a  deep 
impression  on  those  who  came  in  contact  with  them  as 
the  ofificials  of  the  church,  as  men  of  great  character. 
Christian  devotion  and  efficiency  in  the  work  of  the 
Kingdom. 

Many  of  us  remember  also  with  great  esteem  and 
personal  affection  those  who  were  subsequently  chosen 
to  the  Eldership  and  who  after  shorter  terms  have  en- 
tered into  rest,  leaving  a  precious  memory  of  consecrated 
lives  in  the  service  of  the  church  which  will  long  endure. 
Of  these  are  Elders  Andrew  Sawyer,  John  C.  House, 
William  V.  Baker  and  Edwin  A.  Frear. 

For  the  last  sixty  years  the  Session  has  had  but 
three  who  have  served  as  clerk  of  that  body.  Elders 
Church,  Field  and  the  present  clerk. 

A  collection  of  photographs  of  all  the  Elders  from 
the  beginning  in  1827,  with  the  exception  of  four  whose 
portraits  had  never  been  taken,  has  been  made  by  the 
clerk  and  the  same  was  framed  and  presented  to  the 
church  at  Easter,  1913,  and  now  hangs  in  the  Chapel. 
These  were  gathered  from  all  sources,  many  retaken  from 
daguerreotypes,    ambrotypes,    ivory-types    and    paintings. 

[   43   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

The    Deacons. 

Until  1907,  this  church  had  chosen  but  nine  deacons 
from  the  time  of  its  organization,  and  there  were  never 
more  than  two  serving  at  one  time. 

While  it  had  been  often  advised  and  advocated  be- 
fore, during  Dr.  Hall's  ministry,  that  a  larger  board  of 
deacons  should  be  chosen,  yet  it  was  delayed  in  accom- 
plishment until  1907,  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Cherry. 
At  that  time  the  number  of  the  board  of  deacons  was 
enlarged  to  thirteen.  Such  action  has  proven  beneficial 
to  the  church  in  stimulating  the  activities  of  some  in 
Christian  service  who  heretofore  had  not  had  this  oppor- 
tunity so  well  presented. 

The  following  are  the  persons  who  have  been  chosen 
to  and  have  held  that  office  at  some  time  since  the  church's 
organization : 

In  1827 — Abram  Nash  and  John  Thomas. 

In  1839— Warren  L.  Adams. 

In  1849 — William  W.  Wight  and  Ethan  Armstrong. 

In  1857 — Thomas  Goldsmith. 

In  1884 — Allen  R.  Williams  and  Hiram  W.  Gordinier. 

In  1891— Nelson  M.  Hayner. 

In  1907 — J.  Erwin  Anthony,  Thomas  L.  Blackburn, 
Herbert  C.  Betts,  Arthur  C.  Dickinson, 
James  H.  Fairweather,  Leo  C.  Grathwol, 
Henry  McWhinnie,  Burtis  A.  Raeder, 
George  Sinclair  and  W.  Fisk  Stevens. 

In  1909 — Edwin  L.  Grimes  and  Alexander  Meekin. 

In  1910 — George  A.  Ross. 

In  1911 — James  A.  Beattie  and  William  Colvin,  Jr. 

In  1915 — John  McBride,  Oscar  A.  Freemyer,  Freder- 
ick M.  McCoubrey  and  Judson  W.  J.  Rogers. 

[   44   ] 


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SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

The  Sabbath   School. 

The  Sabbath  School  was  organized  in  March,  1828, 
the  year  following  the  organization  of  the  church  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Troy.  A  Sabbath  School  had  been  main- 
tained for  some  time  by  the  First  church  of  Troy  in  this 
locality,  and  this  school  was  then  taken  over,  assumed, 
and  maintained  by  this  church  under  the  management 
of  a  committee  of  three  of  the  original  elders,  Gurdon 
Corning,  James  Wallace  and  Alsop  Weed.  Subsequently 
Mr.  Wallace  was  made  superintendent.  The  names  of 
the  superintendents  with  the  dates  of  their  election  (ex- 
cept that  of  Mr.  Wallace  which  is  not  definitely  known 
because  of  the  destruction  of  the  records  by  fire)  are 
as  follows: 

James  Wallace — Date  of  election  not  known;  prob- 
ably in  1828  or  1829. 
Stephen  W.  Dana— 1833. 
Charles  H.  Kellogg— 1844 
Homer  Merriam — 1847. 
Elisha  Talmadge— 1849. 
Ezra  W.  Boughton— 1858. 
Frederick  P.  Allen— 1867 
Wm.  H.  Hollister,  Jr.— 1878. 
Robert  Cluett— 1883. 
William  V.  Baker— 1893. 
Robert  Cluett— 1896. 
William  Hagen— 1905. 

The  superintendent  or  assistant  has  always  been  a 
member  of  the  session. 

The  Missionary  Societies. 

This   church   has   always   been   imbued   with   a   true 
missionary  spirit,  and  especially  among  its  women. 

[   45   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

The  Woman's  Church  Missionary  Society  was  organ- 
ized in  1870,  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  a  local  mis- 
sionary to  visit  and  minister  to  the  sick  and  destitute  of 
the  community.  For  about  thirty  years  Miss  Joanna  T.  F. 
Willett  has  faithfully  served  as  the  church  missionary 
under  this  society. 

In  January,  1872,  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  was  organized,  and  through  its  activities  the 
church's  interest  in  the  foreign  work  has  been  materially 
increased.  The  interests  of  this  society  have  been  largely 
in  Siam  and  Persia.  For  a  time  it  supported  a  missionary 
in  Siam,  and  has  contributed  to  work  in  Persia,  and  other 
special  fields  as  suggested  by  the  Foreign  Board. 

The  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  was  organ- 
ized in  1880,  and  has  contributed  to  work  among  the 
Mormons,  mountaineers  and  freedmen,  as  well  as  to  many 
other  general  home   mission  objects. 

In  1902  the  two  Missionary  Societies  were  consoli- 
dated into  one  society  under  the  name  of  the  Woman's 
Missionary  Society,  as  a  single  organization  divided  into 
home  and  foreign  branches. 

In  1913,  this  church  united  in  the  general  plan  of  the 
Foreign  Board  of  securing  one  hundred  and  sixty  new 
men  that  year  to  go  into  the  Foreign  Field.  Through 
the  powerful  presentation  to  our  congregation  of  the 
needs  and  the  plan  by  Rev.  Frank  W.  Bible,  one  of  the 
Missionaries  of  the  Board  in  China,  personal  subscrip- 
tions amounting  to  $1,000  a  year  for  a  term  of  three  years 
were  made  by  members  of  the  congregation  for  the  pur- 
pose of  maintaining  a  missionary  of  its  own.  As  a  result 
of  this  movement,  the  Rev.  Alonzo  Alden  Pratt  was  sent 
to  China,  as  our  pastor  in  the  foreign  field,  and  is  now 
laboring  in  Ko-Chow,  China.  At  the  congregational  meet- 

[  46  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

ing  in  March,  1916,  the  plan  of  individual  subscriptions 
for  this  special  purpose  was  discontinued  and  the  full 
amount  of  one  thousand  dollars  was  placed  in  the  general 
benevolence  budget  for  that  special  purpose. 

Mr.  Pratt  is  a  son  of  Rev.  James  R.  Pratt,  once  an 
elder  in  the  Ninth  Church,  and  afterwards  ordained  to 
the  ministry. 

In  1829  the  Ladies'  Industrial  Society  was  organized 
for  work  within  the  bounds  of  the  church  and  continued 
under  that  name  until  1907,  when  it  was  reorganized  under 
the  name  of  the  Woman's  Church  Society,  for  the  purpose 
of  strengthening  and  increasing  the  work  of  the  church 
in  its  religious,  social  and  material  features.  It  has  been 
active  in  various  departments  of  church  work,  and  has 
proved  itself  of  great  value  in  enlisting  the  service  of  prac- 
tically all  the  women  of  the  church. 

Twentieth  Century  Birthday  Service. 

An  event  of  unusual  interest  occurred  on  the  night 
of  December  31,  1900,  when  the  whole  congregation  met 
in  a  service  of  thanksgiving  and  prayer  in  the  church  two 
hours  before  midnight,  and  continued  the  same  until  after 
the  hour  when  the  nineteenth  century  had  passed  and  the 
twentieth  century  had  begun.  For  some  time  the  pastor 
and  session  had  it  in  mind  to  hold  such  a  service,  and  a 
special  effort  to  secure  attendance  was  made  by  the  use 
of  printed  invitations,  sent  to  every  individual  and  family, 
and  also  by  affording  conveyances  to  the  church  on  that 
occasion  for  the  aged  and  infirm,  who  otherwise  would  be 
denied  the  privilege.  The  service  was  termed  a  "Birthday 
Service  of  the  Twentieth  Century,"  and  the  invitations 
signed  by  the  pastor  and  session  read  partly  as  follows: 

"We    therefore    cordially    invite    every    member   and 

[   47   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

family  of  this  church  and  congregation  to  a  service  of 
thanksgiving  and  prayer  in  the  church  on  the  night  of 
December  31,  1900,  at  ten  o'clock.  The  service  will  con- 
tinue until  after  midnight,  when  the  new  century  will 
begin,  and  will  be  under  the  leadership  in  turn  of  the 
Session,  the  Sabbath  School,  and  the  Young  People's 
Christian  Union.  A  roll  book  for  the  signatures  of  every 
person  in  attendance  will  be  provided  and  kept  as  a  me- 
morial of  this  historical  occasion." 

As  a  matter  of  fact  over  four  hundred  people  attended 
the  service,  and  the  signatures  of  three  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  of  those  were  obtained  and  are  now  preserved  as  a 
part  of  the  records  and  archives  of  the  church.  As  the 
bell  tolled  out  the  hour  of  midnight,  and  marked  the  pass- 
ing of  the  old  century,  the  whole  congregation  was  bowed 
in  prayer,  led  by  the  pastor.  Dr.  Hall,  and  the  services 
closed  ten  minutes  later. 

The  following  is  a  brief  account  of  the  service  as  it 
substantially  appeared  in  the  Troy  Record  on  the  follow- 
ing morning,  January  1,  1901 : 

NOTABLE  SERVICE  IN  CONNECTION   WITH   THE 
WELCOME  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY. 

"Make  a  joyful  noise  all  ye  Lands"  was  read  by 
WilHam  H.  Hollister,  Jr.,  at  the  opening  of  the  services 
in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  last  evening,  and  oyer 
four  hundred  voices  responded  "Serve  the  Lord  with 
Gladness,  Come  before  His  Presence  with  Song,"  and 
thus  alternating  they  read  the  100th  and  the  134th  Psalms, 
after  which  Elder  John  Harrison,  father  of  the  session, 
in  a  voice  that  at  times  trembled  with  emotion,  thanked 
God  for  past  blessings,  and  invoked  future  guidance  on 
church  and  people. 

The  Pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Hector  Hall,  and  the  entire 
Session  were  present  as  follows:     Elders  John  Harrison, 

[   48  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Franklin  Field,  Frederick  P.  Allen,  William  V.  Baker, 
Robert  duett,  Edward  H.  Boughton,  Harvey  S.  McLeod, 
Edwin  A.  Frear  and  William  H.  Hollister,  Jr. 

Mrs.  Hector  Hall  sang  "We  Are  Going  to  His  Palace, 
Going  to  a  Better  Land."  Elder  Hollister  in  continuing 
the  service  said  that  the  meeting  at  this  particular  time 
might  be  founded  on  sentiment,  but  it  was  a  sentiment 
that  made  men  better  and  stronger  for  service  as  the 
centuries  of  Christianity  follow  each  other  in  succession. 

The  pastor,  Dr.  Hall,  read  a  telegram  from  the  former 
pastor.  Dr.  William  Irvin,  containing  hearty  congratula- 
tions to  pastor  and  people,  and  best  wishes  for  the  new 
year  and  the  new  century.  Several  letters  of  greeting 
were  read,  among  them  one  from  Andrew  Sawyer,  of 
Hartford,  Conn.,  a  former  member  of  the  session. 

Dr.  Hall  said  that  the  watch  night  service  was  insti- 
tuted by  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  when  they  gave  up 
celebrating  Christmas. 

Fred  C.  Comstock  sang  "O  How  Precious  Are  the 
Lessons  That  I  Learn  at  Jesus'  Side." 

Elder  Robert  Cluett,  then  taking  charge  of  the  meet- 
ing at  this  point  in  behalf  of  the  Sunday  School,  called 
attention  to  the  fact  that  Miss  Cerynthia  M.  Sheldon,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Sabbath  School  when  it  was  organ- 
ized in  1828,  seventy-two  years  before,  was  present.  Mr. 
Cluett  read  the  names  of  past  superintendents  and  said 
that  the  Sabbath  School  had  always  manifested  a  spirit  of 
devotion  to  the  study  of  God's  word. 

He  then  called  upon  Elder  Frederick  P.  Allen,  the 
oldest  ex-superintendent  in  point  of  service,  who  told  of 
his  connection  with  the  school  when  sessions  were  held  in 
the  old  Sixth  Street  Church,  and  of  Elder  Ezra  W.  Bough- 
ton,  of  blessed  memory,  who  had  extended  to  him  the 
Mosaic  invitation  "Come  with  Us  and  We  Will  Do  Thee 
Good."  Elder  Hollister  spoke  in  terms  of  deepest  grati- 
tude of  the  influence  of  Elder  Field,  and  of  the  departed 
Elders  Peck  and  Boughton,  together  with  that  of  Mrs. 
Peck  and  Miss  Clarissa  Weed,  as  teachers  in  the  Sabbath 
School. 

[  49  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Elder  Baker  followed,  speaking  of  the  beginning  and 
progress  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
Troy  and  the  Young  People's  Christian  Union  of  this 
church  and  kindred  organizations  during  the  last  century. 

Mr.  James  A.  Beattie,  president  of  the  Young  People's 
Christian  Union,  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
Young  People's  Christian  Union  had  existed  for  one-third 
of  a  century,  and  then  introduced  Elder  Harvey  S.  Mc- 
Leod,  its  first  president,  who  told  of  its  organization  in 
1867,  being  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  of  its  kind. 
Dr.  Irvin  had  given  its  motto  "More  united  and  earnest 
effort  in  the  cause  of  Christ."  The  object  has  been  to  stir 
the  young  to  higher  aims  and  nobler  ambitions. 

Miss  Ten  Eyck  then  sang  "Sweet  Hour  of  Prayer." 

Dr.  Hall  at  the  close  of  the  prayer  which  was  offered 
during  the  passing  of  the  old  and  the  beginning  of  the 
new  century,  extended  the  greeting  of  the  pastor  and 
session  to  those  assembled,  and  wished  them  a  happy  new 
century ;  and  after  all  had  united  in  singing 

"God  of  our  fathers,  whose  Almighty  hand 
Leads  forth  in  beauty  all  the  starry  band," 

the  pastor  pronounced  the  benediction,  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  general  New  Year  and  New  Century  greeting 
and  the  signing  of  the  midnight  roll. 

Day  of  Prayer  and  Conference. 
In  February,  1905,  the  session  set  apart  the  following 
March  10th  to  be  observed  by  the  church  as  "a  day  of 
special  prayer  and  conference"  with  reference  to  the  spir- 
itual condition  and  activities  of  the  church.  This  enlisted 
so  much  interest  that  it  has  been  followed  every  year 
since  with  the  addition  of  special  evening  services  during 
the  week  on  which  the  day  of  conference  falls,  and  with 
which  it  closes.  It  has  frequently  been  appointed  to  im- 
mediately precede  the  March  communion  service,  and  thus 
the  special  day  of  prayer  has  often  been  concluded  with 

[   50   ] 


SECOND     P  K  E  S  C  Y  T  K  R I  A  N     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N  .     Y  . 

the  preparatory  lecture.  A  printed  program  of  topics  of 
special  spiritual  interest  has  been  usually  prepared  and 
brief  addresses  made  by  the  pastor,  members  of  the 
session,  and  occasionally  by  other  members  of  the  church, 
the  program  covering  three  services,  morning,  afternoon 
and  evening.  This  custom,  now^  observed  for  more  than 
ten  years,  has  been  considered  to  be  of  great  help  in  the 
development  of  the  spiritual  life  and  character  of  members 
of  the  church. 

The  Communion  as  a  Separate  Service. 

It  has  been  the  custom  of  this  church  from  time  im- 
memorial to  hold  a  special  and  separate  service  in  the 
afternoon  for  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  supper.  While 
this  is  an  unusual  custom  in  churches,  it  has  been  thought 
to  have  been  observed  here  from  the  beginning  of  the 
organization,  or  at  least  so  long  that  the  "memory  of  man 
runneth  not  to  the  contrary,"  and  has  been  found  to  be 
of  special  interest  and  solemnity  in  its  observance  in  that 
manner. 

The   New    Year's   Morning   Meeting. 

It  has  been  also  the  custom  of  the  church  to  hold  a 
New^  Year's  prayer  meeting  in  the  chapel  on  the  morning 
of  New  Year's  Day,  which  custom  has  been  observed  fully 
sixty  years,  if  not  more.  It  may  be  noted  that  the  late 
Elder  F.  P.  Allen  had  attended  every  such  meeting,  as 
he  frequently  stated,  from  the  time  of  his  coming  to  Troy 
in  1855,  and  this  statement  was  repeated  on  the  last  New 
Year's  service  preceding  his  death  in  1911.  The  meeting 
is  led  by  the  pastor  and  serves  as  a  happy  occasion  of 
New  Year  greetings  among  the  members,  and  a  proper 
season  to  renew  our  consecration  in  Christian  life  and 
service. 

[   51    ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Membership  Since    Organization. 

The  number  of  persons  admitted  to  membership 
since  the  organization  of  the  church  to  April  1,  1916,  is 
3,813,  of  whom  1,926  were  received  on  profession  of  their 
faith,  and  1,887  on  certificate  from  other  churches,  being 
an  annual  average  of  about  42.  The  nominal  membership 
in  April,  1916,  is  six  hundred  and  ninety,  but  a  careful 
pruning  of  the  register  would  probably  show  scarcely  more 
than  five  hundred  and  fifty  in  active  connection  with  the 
church.  This  has  come  to  pass  largely  by  the  removal  of 
members  from  time  to  time,  and  their  failure  to  take  letters 
of  dismission  to  the  churches  of  their  changed  locality,  or 
give  any  information  as  to  their  residence.  This  is  a 
practice  both  to  be  deplored  and  discouraged,  as  it  tends 
to  give  a  fictitious  value  to  the  records  of  the  church. 

Memorial  Gifts. 

In  addition  to  the  memorial  porch  heretofore  referred 
to  there  are  but  two  memorials  in  the  buildings.  Prior 
to  1907,  Mrs.  Anna  Swartwout  Phelps  of  New  York,  had 
expressed  a  desire  to  erect  a  memorial  in  the  church  in 
memory  of  her  father  and  mother,  Henry  and  Maria  K. 
Swartwout,  who  had  been  members  of  the  church  since 
1842  up  to  the  time  of  their  decease  in  1892  and  1898 
respectively.  In  1907  the  desire  materialized  in  the  build- 
ing and  presentation  of  a  new  organ,  in  conjunction  with 
her  brother,  William  M.  Swartwout,  then  a  member,  at  a 
cost  of  over  $20,000.  The  organ  was  built  by  the 
Hutchings-Votey  Co.,  of  Boston,  contains  an  echo  organ 
and  chimes,  and  is  reputed  to  be  one  of  the  finest  in  tone, 
power,  variety  of  expression,  and  excellence  of  construc- 
tion,   of    any    such    instrument  outside  the  metropolitan 

[   52   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

centers.    The  bronze  tablet  on  the  walls  of  the  auditorium 
expresses  the  gift  as  follows: 


TO    THE   GLORY   OF    GOD 
AND    IN    LOVING    MEMORY    OF   HER    PARENTS 

HENRY    SWARTWOUT 

AND 

MARIA    KETELHUYN     SWARTWOUT 

THE    ORGAN    OF    THIS    CHURCH 

WAS    ERECTED    BY    THE    GIFT    OF 

ANNA    SWARTWOUT    PHELPS 

1907 


In  1914,  Elder  Harvey  S.  McLeod  presented  to  the 
church  a  second  memorial,  and  placed  in  the  western  end 
of  the  chapel,  a  beautiful  window  in  loving  memory  of  his 
wife,  Mary  Field  McLeod,  who  became  a  member  of  this 
church  in  1866,  and  died  April  26,  1891.  The  window  is 
not  only  beautiful  in  appearance  but  adds  much  to  the 
comfort  and  utility  of  the  chapel  by  greatly  increasing  its 
light. 

Gifts  for  Benevolent   Fund. 

From  time  to  time  the  church  has  received  various 
gifts  from  legacies,  and  otherwise,  the  income  of  which 
is  to  be  used  for  distribution  among  the  poor,  for  Sunday 
School  purposes,  for  clothing  destitute  children,  furnish- 
ing books  for  the  Sabbath  School  and  for  missionary  pur- 
poses. These  gifts  have  amounted  to  over  $20,000  and 
are  invested  by  the  trustees,  and  the  income  is  annually 
distributed  by  them  through  the  proper  channels. 

Those  who  have  contributed  to  this  fund  deserve  the 
gratitude  of  this  people  for  their  kindly  gifts.    The  follow- 


[  53  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

ing  are  the  names  of  the  donors  with  the  objects  of  their 
benefactions : 

Clarence  Willard,  James  H.  Kellogg,  J.  Marshall 
Van  Valkenburgh,  Eliza  Doolittle  and  Thomas  Goldsmith, 
for  the  deacons'  fund,  used  for  the  needy  of  the  church ; 
Mrs.  Lena  E.  Boughton  and  Katherine  J.  Boughton,  for 
the  work  of  the  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary- 
Societies  ;  Mrs.  Jane  N.  Green,  for  books  for  the  Sabbath 
School ;  Jeremiah  S.  Hakes,  for  widows  and  orphans ; 
Mary  O.  Hall,  Charlotte  E.  King  and  Ida  L.  Dusenberry, 
for  the  work  of  a  church  missionary,  and  William  J. 
Howes,  for  clothing  and  Christmas  presents  for  the 
children  of  the  infant  or  primary  department  of  the  Sab- 
bath School. 

Amounts  Expended  for  Congregational  and  Benevolent 

Purposes. 

Since  1876,  there  has  been  expended  for  congrega- 
tional purposes,  including  repairs,  reconstruction,  improve- 
ments and  decoration  of  the  church  and  chapel,  upwards 
of  $420,000. 

The  amount  of  the  benevolences  of  the  church  during 
the  same  period  reported  from  time  to  time  in  the  session 
reports  to  the  Presbytery,  has  amounted  to  about 
$150,000.  Of  this  sum  $68,000  have  been  given  to  Home 
Missions,  $43,000  for  Foreign  Missions,  and  the  balance 
of  $39,000  distributed  through  the  other  Boards  of  the 
church  and  for  special  objects. 

Systematic  Envelope  Giving. 

For  more  than  fifty  years  the  church  has  had  some 
form  of  systematic  giving  through  the  envelope  system, 
for  its  current  expenses.    This  supplemented  the  pew  rents 

[   54   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TRQV,     N.     Y . 

for  church  support.  About  1912,  an  every-member  canvass 
plan  was  introduced,  and  an  enlarged  committee  was 
formed  by  the  Church  Finance  Committee  with  instruc- 
tions to  visit  every  member  of  the  church  and  congre- 
gation, and  solicit  a  pledge  both  for  church  support  and 
for  benevolences,  the  latter  to  be  dispensed  through  the 
Church  Boards  in  the  ratios  determined  by  the  Session 
or  as  designated  by  the  individual  donors.  This  church 
was  among  the  first  to  adopt  the  recommendation  of  the 
General  Assembly,  and  the  plan  has  been  successful,  yield- 
ing a  larger  return  than  formerly,  both  to  church  support 
and  to  general  benevolences.  By  the  visitation  of  the 
whole  congregation  through  a  large  committee,  espe- 
cially set  apart  at  the  morning  service  by  the  pastor  in 
prayer  (which  was  done  at  the  canvasses  of  1915  and 
1916)  it  became  also  a  means  of  grace  to  the  people  as 
well  as  to  the  committee.  It  is  possible  that  it  may  de- 
velop into  the  system  of  raising  the  entire  church  budget 
for  current  expenses,  and  thus  discontinuing  the  system 
of  pew  renting  as  now  practiced. 

This  church  has  now  nearly  completed  its  ninetieth 
year  as  a  civil,  and  its  eighty-ninth  as  an  ecclesiastical, 
organization. 

This  sketch  must  necessarily  be  an  imperfect  and  ab- 
breviated record  of  its  life  and  activities,  but  it  has  been 
sought  to  make  it  as  accurate,  as  far  as  it  goes,  as  under 
the  circumstances  of  its  preparation  it  could  be  made.  In- 
formation has  been  sought  from  a  large  number  of  sources, 
and  the  writer  is  greatly  indebted  to  those  who  have  so 
heartily  responded  to  his  requests  for  historical  informa- 
tion beyond  his  own  personal  knowledge. 

To-day  we  re-enter  our  renovated  and  redecorated 
house  of  worship  after  an  expenditure  of  over  $8,000,  due 

[  55  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

very  largely  to  the  again  repeated  generosity  of  one  of  our 
members.  This  work  has  been  done  under  the  efficient 
management  of  a  joint  Committee  of  Trustees  and  Elders, 
of  which  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  Mr. 
Joseph  McKay,  is  the  chairman,  to  whom  and  to  his  asso- 
ciates by  their  patient  and  unremitting  efforts  for  over 
three  months,  we  are  very  largely  indebted  for  these 
results. 

By  our  presence  here  to-day,  we  pledge  anew  our 
loyalty  and  devotion  to  this  church  with  such  a  noble 
record,  and  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  from  whom 
comes  all  our  inspiration  for  Christian  service. 


^   >i<    ^ 


I  56  J 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y, 

ADDENDA. 

[Note. — Since  the  foregoing  sketch  was  prepared  it  has  been 
deemed  advisable  to  cover  some  further  data  with  reference  to  the 
church  not  included  therein,  but  all  of  which  may  properly  be  stated 
as  falling  within  the  first  nine  decades  of  the  ecclesiastical  life  of 
the  church.] 

Resignation    of    Mr.    Sawtelle. 

In  June,  1916,  Rev.  William  L.  Sawtelle  received  an 
unanimous  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Scranton,  Pa.,  and  in  July  announced  to  the  congregation 
his  acceptance  of  the  same.  On  September  17,  1916,  his 
resignation  v^as  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Troy,  and 
the  pastoral  relations  were  dissolved  with  this  church,  to 
take  effect  on  that  date.  Mr.  Sawtelle's  pastorate  was 
the  briefest  of  any  in  the  record  of  the  church — somewhat 
less  than  two  years. 

Mr.  Sawtelle  was  a  man  of  exceedingly  strong  per- 
sonality, of  an  almost  infectious  geniality,  of  great  kind- 
ness and  sympathy  of  disposition  and  a  preacher  of  un- 
usual mental  and  spiritual  power.  It  was  with  the  deep- 
est regret  that  this  people  were  called  upon  to  yield  to 
the  demands  of  what  appeared  to  be  a  field  of  wider  oppor- 
tunity for  pastoral  service. 

The    Reverend    Stephen    W.    Dana,    D.D. 

The  Rev.  John  Jay  Dana,  referred  to  in  the  foregoing 
sketch,  and  who  entered  the  ministry  from  this  church, 
was  the  son  of  Stephen  W.  Dana,  an  elder  from  1830 
to  1846. 

The  Rev.  Stephen  W.  Dana,  a  son  of  John  Jay  Dana, 
and  a  grandson  of  the  elder  Stephen  W.  Dana,  was  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1861  at  Williams  College,  ordained 
to  the  ministry  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in  1867, 
and  was  pastor  of  the  Walnut  Street  Presbyterian  Church 

[  57  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

of  that  city  for  nearly  forty-five  years,  during  which  pas- 
torate   he  died,  only  a  few  years  ago. 

Although  probably  born  after  the  removal  of  his 
father  from  this  church,  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  he  was 
a  lineal  descendant  from  an  elder,  and  son  of  one  who 
entered  the  ministry  from  this  church. 

Descendants   of   Charter   Members. 

So  far  as  known  there  are  now  on  the  membership 
roll  of  this  church  only  two  direct  descendants  of  those 
who  were  the  original  and  charter  members  received  in 
1827.  They  are,  Mrs.  Julius  S.  Hawley,  granddaughter 
of  Mrs.  Susan  Drake,  wife  of  Doctor  Samuel  Drake,  re- 
ceived from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy,  and 
Miss  Clara  Stearns  (who  for  nearly  or  quite  twenty-five 
years  has  been  the  organist  of  the  church),  a  grand- 
daughter of  Mrs.  Eliza  Stearns,  wife  of  Livy  Stearns, 
received  from  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Union  Vil- 
lage, N.  Y. 

Dr.    Theodore    Bliss. 

Among  those  once  members  of  this  church  who  have 
gone  to  the  foreign  field  is  Doctor  Theodore  Bliss,  son 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  WiUiam  Bliss,  present  members.  He  was 
received  into  membership  of  this  church  on  examination 
in  1895,  prepared  for  college  at  the  Troy  Academy,  entered 
Cornell  University  in  1897,  where  he  was  duly  graduated, 
and  subsequently  graduating  at  Cornell  Medical  College 
in  New  York.  While  a  medical  student  he  joined  the 
''student  volunteers"  at  Northfield,  during  his  attendance 
there  at  a  student  conference. 

An  offer  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions of  a  place  in  one  of  its  mission  fields  was  ofTered 

[   68   ] 


SECOND     PRI'.  SBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

him,  which,  after  due  consideration,  he  decHned,  and  there- 
after took  up  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Schenectady, 

In  1909  he  received  an  emergency  call  from  Saint 
Luke's  Hospital  at  Tokyo,  Japan,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  U.  S.  A.  Not  being 
then  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  he  could  not 
regularly  be  appointed  to  the  medical  staff  of  that  hospital, 
but  upon  his  confirmation  in  1911,  he  received  such  ap- 
pointment. Doctor  Bliss  v^as  afterwards  transferred  to 
Saint  James's  Hospital  at  Anking,  China,  where  he  is  now 
laboring  (1917)  in  the  medical  branch  of  missionary 
service.  His  work  is  spoken  of  with  the  highest  com- 
mendation by  those  with  whom  he  is  associated,  and  who 
have  full  knowledge  of  his  labors. 

Miss   Helen   Esther   Boughton. 

Our  latest  representative  in  the  foreign  missionary 
field  is  Miss  Helen  Esther  Boughton,  daughter  of  Elder 
Edward  H.  Boughton,  and  granddaughter  of  the  late 
Elder  Ezra  W.  Boughton. 

Miss  Boughton  became  a  baptized  member  of  this 
church  in  1889,  and  in  1902  was  received  into  full  fellow- 
ship upon  profession  of  her  faith. 

She  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Troy,  grad- 
uated from  the  Troy  High  School  in  1908,  took  her  college 
course  at  Mount  Holyoke  College,  and  a  secretarial  course 
at  Simmons  College  in  Boston,  Mass.,  followed  by  a  busi- 
ness course  at  the  Troy  Business  College. 

Miss  Boughton  sailed  in  May,  1917,  to  become  the 
financial  secretary  of  the  American  Presbyterian  Mission 
at  Hwaiyuen,  Anhwei,  China. 

All  the  mission  work  at  this  station  is  financed  by  the 

[   59   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Central  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York  City,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Presbyterian  Foreign  Mission  Board. 
Miss  Boughton  is  the  first  and  only  woman  from  this 
church  who  has  dedicated  her  life  to  Christian  work  in 
the  foreign  field. 

Semi-Centennial  of  the  Young  People's  Christian  Union. 

If  an  event  may  be  anticipated  in  a  historical  sketch, 
it  will  be  noticed  by  reference  to  a  preceding  statement 
herein  that  in  1917  the  Young  People's  Christian  Union 
will  have  completed  fifty  years  of  its  existence.  It  was 
organized  in  1867  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  William 
Irvin.  In  October,  1892,  it  celebrated  with  considerable 
formality  and  enthusiasm  its  twenty-fifth  birthday  under 
the  name  of  "A  Semi-Jubilee,"  and  welcomed  back  at  that 
time  to  participate  in  its  exercises  many  of  its  members 
who  had  removed  to  other  parts  of  the  country.  Again 
with  imposing  ceremonies  on  February  25,  1901,  the 
"Third-of-a-Century"  celebration  was  observed  at  which 
greetings  were  brought  from  most  of  the  other  young 
people's  organizations  of  the  city  and  vicinity.  It  is  now 
proposed  to  celebrate  its  semi-centennial  in  an  equally 
imposing  manner,  and  already  arrangements  are  under 
way  for  such  observance  in  October,  1917. 

Rarely  is  it  permitted  to  any  charter  member  of  an 
organization  of  this  character  to  celebrate  its  half-hun- 
dredth anniversary,  and  yet  there  are  those  now  here  to 
whom  this  privilege  is  likely  to  be  given.  It  is  pleasant 
to  present  here  the  likenesses  of  all  the  twenty-eight  mem- 
bers who  have  served  for  one  or  more  terms  in  the  office 
of  president  of  the  Young  People's  Christian  Union  of  this 
church  since  its  organization. 

[  60  ] 


Presidents  uf  Young  People's  Christian  Union. 


SECOND     PRKSBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

The    Reverend    Paul    Robinson    Hickok. 

The  Rev.  Paul  Robinson  Hickok,  present  pastor,  was 
born  in  Nebraska  in  1877.  He  was  educated  at  the  Col- 
lege of  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1897.  His  theological  course  was  taken  at  Auburn 
Seminary,  where  he  graduated  with  the  class  of  1900. 
He  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Wooster  in  August,  1900.  For  nearly  three  years,  from 
1900  to  1902,  he  was  assistant  pastor  of  the  Old  Stone 
(First  Presbyterian)  Church  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  in 
1902  was  called  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dela- 
ware, Ohio,  which  church  he  served  until  1909. 

In  June  of  that  year  he  became  pastor  of  the  Metro- 
politan Church  of  Washington,  D.  C,  from  whence  he 
was  unanimously  called  to  this  church  in  December,  1916, 
and  began  his  pastorate  here  in  January,  1917.  He  was 
duly  installed  as  pastor  on  the  19th  of  February  following. 

Mr.  Hickok  was  called  upon  the  unanimous  recom- 
mendation of  a  committee  of  twelve  representing  the  dif- 
ferent boards  of  the  church  and  from  the  congregation 
at  large ;  and  in  the  space  of  but  little  more  than  two 
months  after  their  appointment,  they  were  ready  to  report 
their  choice,  which  report  was  unanimously  approved  by 
the  congregation  on  December  2,  1916,  at  which  date  a 
call  was  issued. 

Mr.  Hickok  is  a  trustee  of  his  Alma  Mater,  the  College 
of  Wooster,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Church 
Erection  Fund  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  U.  S.  A., 
both   of  which   positions   he   has   held   for   several   years. 


[   61   ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y 

Trustees  and  Date  of  Election  Since  Organization. 


Jeremiah  Dauchy 
Tesse   Patrick 


Samuel  McCoun 
Joseph  Russell 
Uriah  Wallace 
John  T.  McCoun 
Jesse    Patrick 


James  Rankin 
Orsamus  Eaton 

Daniel  Sackett 


Robert  D.  Silliman 
Elias  Ross 


Orsamus  Eaton 
Daniel  Sackett 
Robert  D.  Silliman 


Lorenzo  D.  Baker 
Elias  Ross 


Daniel  Sackett 


1827 
Stephen  Eldridge 
William  D.  Haight 

1828 
Samuel  Gale 

1829 
Robert  D.  Silliman 

1830 
James  Rankin 

1831 
Daniel   Sackett 

1832 
William  D.  Haight 

1833 
George  Fry 

1834 
Nathaniel  Church 

1835 
George   Fry 
Jeremiah  S.  Hakes 

1836 
Edward  Babcock 

1837 
John  D.  Willard 


1839 
Elias   Gates 
Edward   Babcock 


1840 
John  D.  Willard 


Uriah  Wallace 
Robert  D.  Silliman 


John  T.  McCoun 

Robert  D.  Silliman 
Stephen  Eldridge 

John  D.  Willard 

Elias  Ross 
Charles  H.  Kellogg 


Jeremiah  S.  Hakes  George  Fry 

Orsamus  Eaton 


Jeremiah  S.  Hakes  George  Fry 

[  62   ] 


Elias  Gates 
Lorenzo  D.  Baker 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 
Trustees   and    Date    of    Election    Since    Organization — (Continued). 


Jared  S.  Weed 
Timothy  Mann 

John  D.  Willard 
Jeremiah  S.  Hakes 
Timothy  Mann 
John  D.  Willard 
Jeremiah  S.  Hakes 
Timothy  Mann 
Ephraim  Carpenter 
Jeremiah  S.  Hakes 
Timothy  Mann 
Ephraim  Carpenter 
Jeremiah  S.  Hakes 
Timothy  Mann 
Joseph  W.  Fuller 
Jeremiah  S.  Hakes 
Henry  E.  Weed 


1842 
Orsamus  Eaton 

1843 
Ephraim  Carpenter 

1844 
George  Fry 

1845 
Orsamus  Eaton 

1846 
Ephraim  Carpenter 

1847 
George  Fry 


Orsamus  Eaton 

1849 
Jared  S.  Weed 

1850 
George  Fry 

185 1 
Jared  G.  Bacon 

1852 
Joseph  W.  Fuller 

1853 
George  Fry 

1854 
Jared  G.  Bacon 

i8S5 
Gurdon  B.  Wallace 

1856 
George  Fry 

1857 
Ransom  B.  Moore 

[   63   ] 


Elias  Ross 
Jared  S.  Weed 
Lorenzo  D.  Baker 
Jared  G.  Bacon 
Jared  S.  Weed 
Lorenzo  D.  Baker 
Jared  G.  Bacon 
Joseph  W.  Fuller 
Lorenzo  D.  Baker 
Henry  E.  Weed 
Hiram  House 
Peter  McDoual 
Henry  E.  Weed 
Samuel  S.  McClure 
Peter  McDoual 
Eleazer  A.   Peck 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 
Trustees    and    Date    of    Election    Since  Organization — (Continued). 


1858 
Joseph  W.  Fuller  G.  B.  Wallace 

Horace  T.  Caswell  (To  fill  vacancy) 


Jeremiah  S.  Hakes 


i8S9 
George  Fry 


i860 
Henry  E.  Weed  Ransom  B.  Moore 

C.   Willard    (To  fill  vacancy) 

1861 
Gurdon  B.  Wallace  Horace  T.  Caswell 


Jeremiah  S.  Hakes 


1862 
George  Fry 

1863 


Charles  E.  Dusenberry    George  C.  Burdett 
Hiram  House    (To  fill  vacancy) 

1864 


Gurdon  B.  Wallace 


Lorenzo  D.  Baker 
John  H.  Coon 
(To  fill  vacancy) 

Frederick  A.  Lape 
(To  fill  vacancy) 


Horace  T.  Caswell 

1865 
William  H.  Gallup 
Ebenezer  R.  Collins 
(To  fill  vacancy) 

Henry   Swartwout 
(To  fill  vacancy) 


Samuel  S.  McClure 

Peter  McDoual 
Eleazer  A.  Peck 

Charles  H.  Bigelow 
Clarence  Willard 
Harvey  Smith 
Hiram  House 


Henry  C.  Sheldon 
Jacob  C.  Wood 
(To  fill  vacancy) 


John   H.   Coon 


Ebenezer  R.  Collins 
1867 


Charles  E.  Dusenberry  Jacob  C.  Wood 
Clarence  Willard 
Ebenezer  R.  Collins 


1868 
William  H.  Gallup 

1869 
Allen  Williams 


1870 
Charles  E.  Dusenberry   Jacob  C.  Wood 
William  J.  Howes  Harvey  Smith 

(To  fill  vacancy)  (To  fill  vacancy) 


William  Allendorph 


1871 
William  H.  Gallup 

[  64  ] 


Allen  Williams 
Frederick  A.  Lape 
Henry  C.  Sheldon 
John  H.  Coon 
Perry  E.  Toles 

Henry  S.  Ranken 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 
Trustees   and    Date    of    Election    Since    Organization— (Continued). 


William  J.  Howes 
Perry  E.  Tolas 


1872 
Ebenezer  R.  Collins         Allen  Williams 

1873 
Charles  E.  Dusenberry    Jacob  C.  Wood 

1874 
Henry  S.  Ranken  William  Alleiidorph  Charles  E.  Willett 

1875 
Ebenezer  R.  Collins         Allen   Williams 


William  J.  Howes 
John  T.  Christie 


1876 
Jacob  C.  Wood  Frederick  A.  Lape 

John  C.  Wheeler   (To  fill  vacancy) 

1877 
Charles  E.  Dusenberry     William  Allendorph  Charles  E.  Willett 


1878 
John  C.  Wheeler 


William  J.  Howes 

Jacob  C.  Wood 

William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  Daniel  W.  Coon 

William  J.  Howes 

Jacob  C.  Wood 


1879 
John  T.  Christie 

1880 


1881 
Allen  Williams 


1882 
Robert  Cluett 


William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.   George  A.  Packer 


Allen  Williams  Charles  E.  Delano 

1885 
Robert  Cluett  Frank  Van  Deusen 

1886 
William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  George  A.  Packer 


Allen  Williams 


William  H.  Frear 
[  65  ] 


Allen  Williams 
Robert  Cluett 
George  A.  Packer 
Charles  E.  Delano 
Henry  B.  Nims 
Daniel  W.  Coon 
William  H.  Frear 
Henry  B.  Nims 
Daniel  W.  Coon 
Charles  E.  Delano 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Trustees    and    Date    of    Election    Since  Organization— (Continued). 

1888 
William  J.  Stevenson       Frank  Van  Deusen  Henry  B.  Nims 

Julius   S.   Hawley    (To  fill  vacancy  for  1  yr.) 

1889 
William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  George  A.  Packer  Julius  S.  Hawley 

H.  E.  Mitchell  Henry  G.  Peirsons 

(To  fill  vacancy  for  2  yrs.)      (To  fill  vacancy  for  1  yr.) 

1890 

Allen  Williams  Edwin  A.  Frear  James  H.  Fairweather 

1891 
Henry  B.  Nims  Frank  Van  Deusen  Melancthon  W,  Campbell 

William  P.  Allendorph     (To  fill  vacancy  for  2  yrs.) 

1892 
William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  George  A.  Packer  Julius  S.  Hawley 

1893 
Edwin  A.  Frear  James  H.  Fairweather     William  P.  Allendorph 

1894 
Henry  B.  Nims  Albert  E.  Bonesteel  Frank  Van  Deusen 

1895 
William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  George  A.  Packer  Julius  S.  Hawley 

1896 
Edwin  A.  Frear  James  H.  Fairweather     William  P.  Allendorph 

John  B.  Harvie  Edgar  J.  Young 

(To  fill  vacancy  for  2  yrs.)      (To  fill  vacancy  for  1  yr.) 

1897 

Frank  Van  Deusen  Edgar  J.  Young  Albert  E.  Bonesteel 

1898 
William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  Julius  S.  Hawley  John  B.  Harvie 

1899 
Edwin  A.  Frear  William  P.  Allendorph    James  H.  Fairweather 

1900 
Frank  Van  Deusen  Edgar  J.   Young  Albert  E.  Bonesteel 

1901 
William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  Julius  S.  Hawley  John  B.  Harvie 

[  66  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Trustees    and    Date    of    Election    Since  Organization — (Continued). 


William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  Julius  S.  Hawley 


1902 

William  P.  Allendorph    Edwin  A.  Frear  Joseph  McKay 

1903 
Frank  Van  Deusen  Edgar  J.  Young  Albert  E.  Bonesteel 

1904 
William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.  Julius  S.  Hawley  John  B.  Harvie 

1905 
Edwin  A.  Frear  William  P.  Allendorph    Joseph  McKay 

1906 

Frank  Van  Deusen  Edgar  J.  Young  Albert  E.  Bonesteel 

William  B.   Frear    (To  fill  vacancy  for  2  yrs.) 


John  B.  Harvie 
William  B.  Frear 
Thomas  R.  Lawson 
J.  Erwin  Anthony 
William  B.  Frear 
Thomas  R.  Lawson 
Lewis  W.  Raymond 
William  P.  Allendorph 
Thomas  R.  Lawson 


William  P.  Allendorph 


Frank  Van  Deusen 


William  H.  Hollister,  Jr. 


William  P.  Allendorph 


Frank  Van  Deusen 


J.  Erwin  Anthony 


William  B.  Frear 


Frank  Van  Deusen 


igog 
Joseph  McKay 

1910 
Edgar  J.  Young 

1911 
John  B.  Harvie 

1912 
Joseph  McKay 

1913 

Edgar  J.  Young 

1914 
John  B.  Harvie 

1915 
Joseph  McKay 

1916 
Edgar  J.   Young 


[  67  ] 


S1<:C0ND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

Presidents  of  the  Board.  I 

1855-1857  Jared  G.  Bacon 

1857-1860  Peter  McDoual 

1860-1861  George  Fry                                                                           j 

1861-1863  Ransom  B.  Moore 

1863-1865  Gurdon  B.  Wallace 

1865-1867  Lorenzo  D.   Baker 

1867-1876  Charles  E.  Dusenberry                                                          ' 

1876-1877  William  J.  Howes                                                                 i 

1877-1880  Charles  E.  Dusenberry                                                          i 

1880-1882  John  T.  Christie                                                                     j 

1882-1914  William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.                                                     ; 

1914-  Joseph  McKay                                                                     ) 

\ 

Church    Organization.  ' 

(May,  1917)  \ 

Moderator  of  Session  -        -        -        .        _        Paul  R.  Hickok  (1917)  i| 

Clerk  of  Session        .        _        _        .        William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.   (1899)  ) 

Elders. 

Harvey  S.  McLeod   (1884)  William  H.  Hollister,  Jr.    (1884) 

Robert   Cluett    (1888)  Edward  H.  Boughton   (1891)  :' 

John  T.  Birge   (i90'3)  Charles   S.  Dean    (1903) 

Lewis  W.  Raymond   (1903)  Burton  K.  Woodward  (1903) 

William  Hagen   (1903)  William  H.  Breese,  Jr.   (1907)  ' 

George  B.  Ehrmann    (1907)  Martin  H.  Walrath   (1907) 

Deacons.  ! 

Nelson  M.  Hayner    (1891)  J.  Erwin  Anthony   (1907) 

Herbert  C.  Betts  (1907)  Arthur  C.  Dickinson   (1907)                                  ; 

Burtis  A.  Raeder   (1907)  James  H.  Fairweather    (1907) 

Edwin  L.  Grimes   (1909)  James  A.  Beattie   (1911) 

William  Colvin,  Jr.   (1911)  John  McBride   (1915)                                              , 

Oscar  A.  Freemeyer  (1915)  Frederick  M.   McCoubrey    (1915)                         ) 

Judson  W.  J.  Rogers   (1915)                •                                          | 

Trustees.  '| 

Frank  Van  Deusen    (1885)                   William  P.  Allendorph   (1891)  ! 

Edgar  J.   Young    (1896)                        John  B.  Harvie   (1896)  \ 

Joseph  McKay  (1902)                            William  B.  Frear   (1906)  | 

Thomas  R.  Lawson   (1910)                   J.   Erwin  Anthony    (1911)  ■ 

Lewis  W.  Raymond    (1914) 

[  68  ] 


SECOND     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     OF     TROY,     N.     Y. 

President  of   Board  of   Deacons    -----  Nelson  M.  Hayner 

President  of   Board  of   Trustees     -----  Joseph   McKay 

Secretary   of  Board  of  Trustees     -----  William  P.  AUendorph 

Treasurer  of  Board  of  Trustees     -----  Lewis  W.  Raymond 

Treasurer  of  Benevolences     -------  Charles  S.  Dean 

Superintendent  of  Sunday  School     -----  William  Hagen 

President  of  Woman's  Missionary  Society    -     -  Mrs.  John  B.  Harvie 

President  of  Woman's  Church  Society     -     -    -  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Dean 

President  of  Young  People's  Christian  Union     -  Carl  L.  Decker 

President  of  Men's  Brotherhood      -----  Mortimer  J.  Barrett 

Church   Secretary      ----------  Miss  Anna  T.  Baker 

Choir. 

Mrs.  Margaret  M.  Belcher,  Soprano        Fred  C.  Comstock,  Baritone 

Miss   Mary   I.   Chitty,   Contralto  William  F.   Sheehan,  Tenor 

Miss   Clara   Stearns,   Organist. 


[  69  ] 


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